FoRF have applied for Local Green Space designation for Ryebank Fields. This has a similar level of protection to Green Belt in Planning terms, so it would help tip the balance against building on a Greenfield site.
To satisfy the Local Green Space Criteria the space must be:
(1) in reasonably close proximity to the community it serves; (2) demonstrably special to a local community and hold a particular local significance, for example because of its beauty, historic significance, recreational value (including as a playing field), tranquility or richness of its wildlife; (3) local in character and not an extensive tract of land
Manchester City Council agree that Ryebank Fields meets the criteria, which in itself is an important acknowledgement. But they can only designate a Local Green Space as part of the Local Plan process – this is the planning document for Manchester which has been repeatedly delayed since 2020 (when we first proposed this) for various reasons. They also are required to weigh up the balance of the argument for protecting a Green Space with other priorities and strategies.
When the Local Plan gets to its next consultation stage this Spring, we’ll be asking people to support this again (as they did in 2020, in huge numbers!) In the meantime we think this document has LOADS of great information about why we love the Fields and why they matter so much to us all.