Greater Manchester Strategy

Greater Manchester Strategy
Name	Greater Manchester Strategy
Jurisdiction	Greater Manchester
Agency executive	Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Greater Manchester Strategy The Greater Manchester Strategy is a regional strategic plan devised for Greater Manchester by civic leaders including the Mayor of Greater Manchester, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and local metropolitan borough councils. It integrates priorities from entities such as Transport for Greater Manchester, NHS England, University of Manchester stakeholders and private partners like the Manchester Airport Group to coordinate activity across the city-region. The strategy aligns with national frameworks overseen by Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and regional programmes linked to the Northern Powerhouse and the Industrial Strategy.

Overview

The strategy sets a multi-decade blueprint for Greater Manchester involving civic institutions such as Manchester City Council, Salford City Council, Oldham Council, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council and Bolton Council. It draws on evidence from statutory bodies including Office for National Statistics, research from Manchester Metropolitan University, urban studies by Royal Town Planning Institute members and input from business bodies like the Confederation of British Industry and the Federation of Small Businesses. Consultation phases referenced civic groups such as Manchester Citizens, housing associations including Great Places Housing Group and transport stakeholders represented by Transport for Greater Manchester Committee.

Objectives and Priorities

Priority objectives include inclusive growth promoted with partners such as the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership, low-carbon transition guided by Committee on Climate Change advice, improved public health with NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care and enhanced skills provision via institutions like The Manchester College and University of Salford. Urban regeneration targets reference brownfield projects in Ancoats, canal-side renewal near Castlefield and office-to-residential conversions influenced by developers like Manchester Life. Transport priorities intersect with schemes such as the Bee Network, rail franchises formerly managed by Northern Rail and strategic airport planning involving the Manchester Airport Group.

Governance and Delivery

Governance arrangements feature the Mayor of Greater Manchester and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority working alongside the ten metropolitan boroughs: Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan, Bolton, Salford and Manchester. Delivery partners include Transport for Greater Manchester, strategic health authorities like NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care and skills providers connected to the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. Contracting and procurement engage firms such as Arup (company), consultancies that have worked with English Cities Fund projects and construction contractors active on schemes linked to HS2 route planning impacts.

Policy Areas

Key policy areas encompass transport interventions coordinated with Transport for Greater Manchester and rail operators formerly including Northern Rail; housing and planning aligned with statutes influenced by the National Planning Policy Framework; employment and skills programmes delivered with Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership and further education colleges such as Hopwood Hall College; public health initiatives in partnership with NHS England and Public Health England predecessors; and environmental policies reflecting targets from the Committee on Climate Change and commitments under the Climate Change Act 2008. Cultural and tourism elements connect to institutions like Manchester International Festival, Manchester Art Gallery and major venues operated by Manchester Arena management.

Funding and Investment

Financing mixes devolved settlement arrangements negotiated with HM Treasury, mayoral precepts overseen by the Home Office-linked processes, private finance from investors including Legal & General and pension funds, and grant funding from bodies such as the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and formerly the European Regional Development Fund. Large infrastructure financing references borrowing powers exercised under devolution deals with HM Treasury and project-level funding for schemes impacted by national programmes such as High Speed 2 and regional investments tied to the Northern Powerhouse agenda.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Performance

Performance frameworks employ metrics compiled by the Office for National Statistics and bespoke dashboards maintained by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority drawing on audit scrutiny from bodies like the National Audit Office and local auditing by Audit Commission successors. Evaluation partners include academic teams from University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University producing impact assessments; transport performance uses data from Transport for Greater Manchester and rail performance monitored against standards set by Office of Rail and Road.

Criticism and Controversies

Critiques have been raised in local media such as the Manchester Evening News and by trade unions including Unison regarding austerity-era financial assumptions, service reductions, and the pace of delivering affordable homes in boroughs like Salford and Oldham. Debates have focused on tensions between growth priorities promoted by entities like the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership and community groups such as Manchester Citizens, disputes over transport fare policies involving Transport for Greater Manchester and campaigners against airport expansion lobbying on Manchester Airport plans. Scrutiny has also involved transparency concerns reviewed by the Information Commissioner's Office and planning appeals adjudicated through the Planning Inspectorate.

Category:Politics of Greater Manchester