New houses must not destroy the City's biodiversity

9.10.23pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 13th Dec 2006

Cllr Iain Donaldson: "New homes must not destroy Manchester's biodiversity"

Projections of an increase in Manchester's population by up to 33,000 have been cautiously welcomed by Liberal Democrats, but they must not threaten the City's new biodiversity according to Lib Dem Community Regeneration Committee Spokesperson, Cllr Iain Donaldson.

The Community Regeneration Scrutiny Committee were today told that Manchester has the space to create 50,000 new properties in the City, but whilst the report had taken account of previously undeveloped sites, no account was taken of previously developed sites that had been allowed to return to nature.

Cllr Donaldson stated:

"This City has a large number of sites on re-claimed land where nature has re-established itself, it is important that any new developments are sensitive to this new bio-diversity."

"I want to see a policy developed that ensures that wildlife is able to flourish in this city alongside the new development, in order that we really can achieve our ambition of a greener, cleaner and safer city."

ENDS