Do you have concerns about the types of statues, monuments and memorials used in Manchester to tell its history? If you do, then this online public meeting to discuss the issues, on 10 March, could be for you. Award winning author and former columnist at the Guardian, Gary Younge is one of the four panel […]
Greater Manchester, with over £1bn in stock, has largest pension fund fossil fuel investment in UK
Greater Manchester Pension Fund is the biggest investor by far in fossil fuels of any local government pension scheme in the country. Environmental groups are calling on GMPF to divest from fossil fuels, to help tackle the climate emergency.
Climate Emergency Manchester petition results in council agreeing to redefine committee’s role in scrutinising climate action
Climate Emergency Manchester lobbied Manchester City Council for a new, 7th scrutiny committee for climate and environment.
The Council instead proposed restructuring existing committees to redefine the role of the Neighbourhoods and Environment Scrutiny Committee.
‘Shudehill Shard’ monies should pay for social housing level rented homes, says Sir Richard Leese
Responding to a call from Piccadilly councillors, Manchester City Council leader Sir Richard Leese said it would be ‘entirely appropriate’ to use money made from the sale of land to build the infamous ‘Shudehill Shard’ for building social housing level rent homes in the ward.
High-rise student flat ‘tombstone’ of Oxford Rd deferred and office block on Deansgate rejected
A 54 storey student tower, dubbed the ‘brick tombstone’, a heritage clashing Deansgate office complex and a proposal to repurpose an iconic Manchester landmark all received scrutiny at this month’s planning committee.
The Factory arts venue faces huge funding shortfall
Originally costing £110m, The Factory arts centre is now expected to cost £186m and the project is currently tens of millions short of its target. Manchester City Council say they can’t fill the gap because of the dire financial straits they face due to Covid.
Legal advisor to Boris Johnson’s planning reforms represents Manchester City Council in judicial review over Central Retail Park
Architect of Boris Johnson’s government’s controversial overhaul of the English planning system, Christopher Katkowski QC is representing Manchester City Council in a judicial review of the local authority’s future use of the former Central Retail Park in Ancoats.
Burnham urged to act against government’s proposed planning system changes
Open letter calls on Andy Burnham, and the leaders of the conurbation’s ten boroughs, to “intervene” in the government’s plans to change the UK planning system, which the campaigners call an “emergency for communities and local authorities across England.”
Hulme tenants launch Crowdfunder for professional planning advice to oppose student flat development
Block the Block is a campaign started by residents of Hulme who are opposed to the building of high-rise student blocks, on a plot of land that has already had two similar proposals rejected by the council’s planning committee.
Their Crowdfunder aims to pay for a planning consultant to help prepare their case against this new proposal.
Campaigners fear for the fate of these popular poplar trees near Ryebank Fields
Campaigners can’t get a clear answer from Trafford Council and Manchester Metropolitan University about which side of the border these trees lie. They fear the trees could be felled to accommodate a controversial proposed development on Ryebank Fields. Andrea Sandor discovers the location of the boundary is indeed under discussion.