Oldham Council votes to withdraw from Places for Everyone housing scheme

Oldham Council has voted to withdraw from the controversial Places for Everyone (PfE) housing scheme, following a contentious extraordinary meeting where the motion passed with a vote of 31 to 28. The decision comes amid growing local opposition to the development plans that include housing on greenbelt land, which many residents and councillors argue prioritizes developers' profits over community needs. Liberal Democrat councillors, who spearheaded the withdrawal, emphasized that the scheme, originally designed over a decade ago, does not address current local challenges and needs. In contrast, Labour councillors warned that withdrawal could leave Oldham without a protective local plan, further endangering greenbelt areas. Stockport Council previously made a similar move, raising questions about the future of the PfE initiative across Greater Manchester. The council will now contact Secretary of State Angela Rayner to formalize the withdrawal request.