Consultation opens on draft Local Plan

Residents, businesses and community groups are invited to share their views on the borough’s draft Local Plan, a legal document that will guide how Stockport changes over the next 15 years once adopted.

The government requires every council to plan for the area’s development needs, including for homes and jobs. Having an up-to-date Local Plan in place means these decisions are made locally and in a coordinated way, rather than through ad-hoc applications or planning appeals.

In Stockport, the amount of housing need set by the national formula cannot be met on previously developed (brownfield) land alone.

The draft Local Plan proposes that most new development is focused in the most sustainable locations, close to transport, services, jobs and infrastructure. This includes up to 8,000 new homes in and around Stockport town centre, and more on other brownfield land across the borough.

However, brownfield land alone is not enough to meet the housing requirement set by the government.

The draft Plan therefore also proposes the use of some land that has not been developed before (“greenfield”), including areas currently within the Green Belt that are identified as ‘grey belt’ (defined by National Planning Policy as poorer quality parts of Green Belt) under updated government planning policy. This would include requirements such as at least half of new homes built in these areas being affordable. If the draft Plan were adopted, more than 40% of the borough would remain designated Green Belt.

The largest areas of current Green Belt earmarked for housing include land between High Lane and the Middlewood Way, and around Woodford. Stockport’s draft Local Plan is available in full here, with a list of sites allocated for residential development from page 110, alongside a map here.

In addition to new homes, the Local Plan also identifies two sites for development of commercial properties, at Bredbury Gateway and Heathside Park Road off Junctions 25 and 2 of the M60 respectively that could add up to 107,000 sqm of commercial space.

The consultation is a chance for anyone with a stake in the borough’s future development to read the draft Local Plan, review the draft proposals in detail, and share thoughts with the Council. Feedback will be used to shape the next version of the Local Plan before it is submitted to the Government for review. Stockport Council’s planning team want to hear what works, what doesn’t, and where alternative options and changes could be made, especially from those who live, work, study or run businesses in Stockport.

Stockport Council is encouraging everyone in the borough to take part, by sharing views online or submitting a written response. Drop-in sessions across the borough to provide information in person from council staff. Printed copies of the draft Local Plan will also be available in local libraries and Stopford House reception.

The consultation runs from 6 November to 21 December 2025, with further details about how to take plart available on the Stockport Council website.

Residents are also invited to speak to the planning team in person at Adlington Walk, outside Stockroom, on:

• 17 November and 24 November between 10.30am and 2.30pm
• 10 December between 10.30am and 2.30pm (inside Stockroom)

The planning team will also be hosting drop-in information sessions around the borough from the 17 November.