Bolton Council approved a blueprint for the development of all but one borough of Greater Manchester over the next 15 years after a decade in the works.

Places for Everyone (PfE) was passed at the town hall this week in spite of a claim from one councillor it should be called "Places for Some More Than Others".

In Bolton, the proposal includes the removal of 205 hectares of land from the Green Belt across three sites in the so-called Bolton-Wigan Growth Corridor, all of them for commercial development rather than residential development, which is to retain its "Brownfield First" approach instead. 

The proposal includes the addition of less than 10 hectares of land to the Green Belt to the north of Horwich Golf Course.

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A team of inspectors appointed by the secretary of state analysed PfE and, last month, they said it was ready for adoption.

On Wednesday the council approved PfE and it is to be adopted as long as there is not a legal challenge to the High Court.

Akhtar Zaman, the cabinet member for regeneration, said: "Adoption represents a significant step towards an up-to-date spatial strategy for Bolton and eight other districts of Greater Manchester with a plan-led approach. 

"I recommend the council adopts the plan-led approach in line with the recommendations."

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The Conservative Group supported the Labour Group on the policy although its leader, Martyn Cox, said to take 10 years over it was "ridiculous". The Liberal Democrats spoke out against the policy and one councillor, Neil Maher, said it should be called "Places for Some More Than Others".

David Wilkinson, Cllr Maher's Lib Dem colleague, said: "There are some good things. However what we are saying is there are winners and losers and I represent an area which is a loser, to say the least [Westhoughton]."

"When I hear about the Green Belt being supported, about environmental issues being supported, about infrastructure issues being supported, it is lucky I keep a straight face because a lot of people in Westhoughton think these comments on these issues are hilarious. We do not lose a bit of Green Belt we lose the lot."

The leader of the council, Nick Peel, said not to approve the policy was not necessarily to protect the Green Belt from development.

Cllr Peel said: "What we have had for the last 10 years is development by appeal and we know what this means. The planning authority turns down an application it goes to appeal and it is 'Have you got a five-year plan for housing?' No. 'Have you got a Spatial Framework?' No. There is no chance of the council defending its position.

"This is not a panacea but it will help us as a planning authority."

Outside the three sites in the so-called Bolton-Wigan Growth Corridor PfE includes an aim to build almost 800 additional homes a year in the borough and to build these additional homes according to better standards in terms of areas such as accessibility and sustainability.

For information go to the GMCA website.

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.