Stockport Council recognises the importance of having an up-to-date Local Plan. As such, we are keen to make progress on our Plan, a Plan which should be the right Plan for Stockport, building the right homes in the right places and delivering the right policies to protect our environment and local character.
Consultation on our draft Plan, which has been formulated under the current National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was scheduled to start in September.
When agreeing to this consultation, the Council’s Cabinet wanted to demonstrate the real progress made in line with the submission deadline of June 2025. They also wanted to hear what local people thought of Stockport’s own Local Plan for Stockport.
The Cabinet was aware at the time that the new Government was likely to publish its intended changes to the planning system, including proposed revisions to the NPPF which may have an impact on our Local Plan. However, what was not clear was the precise timing, or the full nature and extent of the changes proposed, or any timelines.
In seeking Cabinet’s agreement to proceed, the report gave the Chief Executive the ability (in consultation with the Leader of the Council) to halt the process in the event that the changes proposed by the Government would require the Council to review its approach in the Local Plan.
Since the announcements were made last week, containing extensive proposed policy changes and a much higher housing number for Stockport and many other Councils in the Country, Officers have undertaken an initial assessment, and this, coupled with legal advice, has culminated in the decision to halt the consultation on the draft Local Plan at this time.
Officers will now focus on preparing a response to the consultation on revisions to the NPPF and wider planning reform, alongside appraising the implications of the changes to the Plan as currently drafted.
A revised Local Development Scheme, formally setting out our timetable towards submission of a Local Plan in compliance with the proposed NPPF, will be issued in due course.