BOLTON Council will face calls to withdraw from the controversial development blueprint for the region and go it alone.

The Bolton Liberal Democrats have submitted a motion calling on council leader Cliff Morris to withdraw Bolton from the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework and instead focus on bringing empty homes and brownfield sites back into use.

The motion, set to be debated at the next meeting of full council on Wednesday, February 22, says the town’s infrastructure could not cope with further housing development and says the spatial framework plans are too vague.

More than 16,000 new homes are earmarked for Bolton by 2035 under the draft plans, a final version of which is expected to be produced in July.

Cllr Roger Hayes, Liberal Democrat group leader, said: “There are currently nearly 5,000 homes across the town sitting empty that need some care and attention to bring them back on to the market, and then there are brownfield sites already identified for a further 5,000 homes.

“Yet the Greater Manchester Spacial Framework would mean these are ignored by developers in favour of cheaper and more profitable greenbelt building. We call on all parties who say they want to protect the Green Belt to put aside their political differences and support our motion.”

The motion says that the spatial framework plan “risks too many uncertainties” and calls on the council to concentrate on ensuring that development goes ahead on brownfield sites that have planning permission.