Hundreds of homes could be removed from Stockport's green belt plans

direct to your inboxAn office ‘campus’ on a much-loved green space in Manchester city centre; hundreds more offices elsewhere; new flats; and a new hotel have been recommended for approval.The major developments mainly focused in and around the city centre will be considered by Manchester council’s planning committee at its final meeting of the year next week.Some schemes - such as plans to build offices and a public park on what is known as ‘New Islington Green’ - have attracted fierce public

direct to your inboxVisitors to care homes in Greater Manchester will be given rapid Covid-19 tests before seeing their loved ones - but only if they have already tested negative for the virus after taking a standard test.Care homes had been warned against relying solely on lateral flow tests after concerns were raised around their accuracy and there being a lack of guidance for staff on how to use them.Lateral flow tests detect three quarters of positive cases within 30 minutes if carried out

direct to your inboxAround 400 new homes, including affordable housing inside a historic landmark, are proposed as part of the continued transformation of Ancoats and New Islington.A ‘mobility hub’ with shared car and cycle parking, as well as new commercial and green spaces, also form part of proposals by Manchester council and housing providers.Ancoats, hailed as the world's first industrial suburb on the eastern fringes of Manchester city centre, has undergone major regeneration since the

direct to your inboxHundreds of people gathered for an anti-lockdown protest in Piccadilly Gardens which spilled over into a march through the city centre.Holding placards and banners with a variety of messages - including ‘Your Voice Your Choice’ and ‘Boris Loves Satan’ - the group gathered for the ‘Rise Up Manchester’ event at around 1pm on Sunday afternoon (December 12).But Manchester City Councillor Pat Karney has slammed those who marched down Market Street as ‘totally dangerous and

direct to your inboxThe UK property market enjoyed a mini boom when it reopened following the first national lockdown.House prices increased by 2.4 per cent in July, compared to the period before lockdown, according to Rightmove.But, if you're thinking this surge will mean it's nigh-on impossible to purchase a property at the moment, then don't lose all hope.There are at least a dozen houses in our area, advertised on Rightmove at the moment, that come in at £50,000 and even less.The slashed

direct to your inboxTalks over the uncertain future of the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF) will continue, despite Stockport councillors voting against the proposals.Opposition groups argued that the long-delayed masterplan for jobs and housing favoured the needs of developers over residents, and would lead to unnecessary green belt development.Labour had hoped that by removing or scaling down schemes planned up to 2037, that it could appease Liberal Democrats, Conservatives, and the

direct to your inboxPlans have been revealed to regenerate one of Manchester's best-known former cotton mills.Brunswick Mill was built on Bradford Road in Ancoats around 1840 and was one of the largest of its kind.At that time, historic Lancashire was at the heart of the cotton industry and the powerhouse behind the nation's industrial revolution.The mill once held some 276 carding machines, the textile process by which fibres are untwisted and separated into a uniform fabric.The imposing

Stockport business leaders have urged the government to spare the borough Tier 3 restrictions ahead of today’s crunch vote in Parliament.Greater Manchester is expected to come under the toughest coronavirus rules from Wednesday (December 2) as national lockdown comes to an end.It means pubs, bars and restaurants must remain closed - although they can offer takeaway and delivery options.But the region-wide approach has sparked controversy in Stockport, which has the second lowest rate in the

Salford has seen a surge in housebuilding over the last decade but the city still struggles to offer a mix of housing, at affordable prices and a sufficient spread.Nearly 90pc of all new homes built in Salford last year were apartments in Ordsall, around the Quays and along the borough's border with Manchester.A total of 3,867 homes were completed in the city between April 2019 and March 2020, according to the council's calculations – 3,419 of them were flats.The Ordsall ward, the area

The latest infection rates for the week ending November 26 for Greater Manchester are:Rochdale - 283.3, down 31 per centOldham - 272.4, down 35 per centBolton - 248.0, down 27 per centBury - 236.1, down 32 per centWigan - 231.9, down 30 per centManchester - 200.1, down 30 per centTameside - 169.1, down 40 per centSalford - 167.3, down 46 per centStockport - 157.1, down 33 per centTrafford - 122.6, down 42 per centAlthough infection rates have been falling across the region for a number of days,

in Wigan.  There are 637 homes without power in the Astley and Tyldesley areas, Electricity North West has confirmed. The shortage is affecting the M29 area of the borough and it is not yet known when power will return to normal. Engineers are on their way to the scene to investigate and the Electricity North West will issue updates once they have them, the provider said.

Middleton, arrived on Monday morning to find smashed windows and missing donations.

Andy Burnham has written an open letter to people in Stockport making the case for the region’s controversial long-term development plan.The joint letter with Stockport council leader Elise Wilson says that more of the borough’s green belt will be put at risk outside the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework (GMSF), than within it.However opponents of the scheme - including many of the ‘Save the Greenbelt’ groups - remain unconvinced.It comes after Stockport councillors last week voted to

Tameside. Police seized a 'substantial amount' of drugs during the raids including crack cocaine, a quarter kilo of heroin and a cannabis farm.They also seized some cash.Seven men - aged between 22 and 54 - were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply class A drugs.A 54-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of the same offence.They all remain in custody for questioning.

The letter, written last week, follows a chaotic couple of months at the university.Fallowfield became a coronavirus hotspot after students returned in September.At one point, it was recording more positive cases than anywhere else in the country.But students, parents and staff have repeatedly complained of a lack of support saying very little was being done to assist those who were ill or having to self-isolate.Last week metal fencing was put up around the Fallowfield halls of residence.The

Sainsbury’s has been urged to reconsider plans to close its store in Stockport town centre.MP Nav Mishra has written to the retail giant’s chief executive Simon Roberts, asking him to think again about shutting the supermarket on Warren Street.In the letter he raises concerns that the decision will have an impact on thousands of people - not least the 87 employees who are facing potential redundancy just weeks before Christmas.It states: “In the middle of a pandemic and in precarious economic

The Ammies parted company with Alexander in the middle of last month just five games into their League Two campaign.

here"We have been doing everything that we can to serve customers on this incredibly busy Sunday and we have increased staff capacity in our store to manage the click & collect service."We’d like to thank our customers for their patience and for shopping with IKEA.”The M.E.N.