A variety of statistical or technical background information is available from the Planning Policy Team.
Specific requests should be directed to the appropriate team member via the Team page.
Available information includes:
- Housing land availability
- Employment land availability
- Open space provision
- Sites of nature conservation importance
Stockport Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment
The Council is required to carry out a Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) by national planning policy, as set down in Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing (PPS3). The primary role of the assessment is to:-
- Identify specific sites with potential for housing;
- Assess their housing potential (in terms of number of dwellings); and
- Assess when they are likely to be developed.
The base date for the SHLAA is 1st April 2008 and it seeks to identify sites that are suitable for housing development and likely to be completed during the 15 year period up to 31st March 2023. The assessment is an essential part of the evidence base for the Stockport Local Development Framework and will inform both the Core Strategy and the Allocations Development Plan Documents.
In October 2008 the Council consulted on the approach to be taken and issued a ‘Call for Sites’ inviting landowners and developers to put sites forward for inclusion in the SHLAA (see 'Related Documents' to the right of this page).
The final assessment was published in March 2010.
To view the SHLAA please go to the Consultation Portal for Planning Policy.
Important: The identification of housing potential from sites and buildings within this assessment does not imply that the Council would necessarily allocate or grant planning permission for their residential development. Similarly, it does not preclude sites being developed for other suitable uses. Nor does it preclude the possibility of residential development being granted on sites that have not been included. Any planning applications will continue to be treated on their own merits and determined in accordance with the adopted development plan and any other material considerations.
Purchase of Open Land within the Green Belt for inclusion within Gardens
On occasions, in some parts of the borough, plots of open land (usually within the Green Belt) are offered for sale. In some cases local residents are approached with an offer to purchase these plots so that they can extend their garden areas. The Council have been asked for advice on this matter by residents in several areas of the borough and, also, have had to take planning enforcement action against residents where the approach set out below is not followed. Anyone considering purchasing open land for inclusion within their garden should note the following advice:
- The use of open land as residential garden space will usually require planning permission;
- In the event that a planning application is received for such a proposal it will be considered having regard to the policies contained within Stockport's development plan, national planning policy and any other material considerations;
- In relation to proposals on Green Belt land: national and local planning policy sets out a range of purposes for which the use of land in the Green Belt is considered appropriate. Extensions to domestic gardens are not identified as an appropriate Green Belt use and, accordiingly are deemed to be an inappropriate use (because they are likely to encroach upon the open character of Green Belt areas). This means that such proposals would be contrary to both local and national policy and could only be granted planning permission if the applicant is able to demonstrate very special circumstances which outweigh any harm that would be caused to the Green Belt.
For further information or advice please contact the Planning Policy Team.