Councillor Jake Austin

On Thursday 6 November, we opened consultation on Stockport’s draft Local Plan — a legal document that will guide how our borough grows and develops over the next 15 years (once adopted).

The draft Local Plan proposes that most new development is focused in the most sustainable locations close to transport, services, jobs, and infrastructure — including up to 8,000 new homes in and around Stockport town centre and more on other previously developed (brownfield) sites across the borough.

But brownfield land alone isn’t enough to meet the housing targets set by government.

That’s why the draft Local Plan also includes proposals for some greenfield land and areas of ‘grey belt’ (poorer quality parts of the Green Belt under updated government planning policy), with requirements such as at least half of new homes in these areas being affordable. If adopted, more than 40% of the borough would remain Green Belt.

This is not the final plan. The consultation is your chance to read the draft Local Plan, review the draft proposals, and tell us what you think. Your feedback will help shape the next version before it’s submitted to the government for review.

You can share your views online or in writing until 21 December. If you’d like to learn more, come along to one of our information drop-in sessions at libraries around the borough.

Printed copies of the draft Local Plan will also be available in libraries and at Stopford House reception.

Read more about the draft Local Plan and what it means for Stockport in our full article.