Stockport Neighbourhood Forums seek redesignation

Two Neighbourhood Forums in Stockport have submitted requests to Stockport Council for redesignation as the relevant bodies to deliver plans for local developments in their communities.

Designation of a Neighbourhood Forum expires after 5 years and groups representing Woodford and Mellor, Marple Bridge, Mill Brow & Compstall have submitted an application to be redesignated.

Woodford Neighbourhood Forum was originally designated on 17th October 2013, and again on 18th October 2018 to act as the organisation responsible for the Woodford Neighbourhood Area and Plan. The Woodford Neighbourhood Plan was adopted on 12th September 2019.

Mellor, Marple Bridge, Mill Brow & Compstall Neighbourhood Forum was originally designated on 17th January 2019 to act as the organisation responsible for the Mellor, Marple Bridge, Mill Brow & Compstall Neighbourhood Area and Plan, which remains in development.

Neighbourhood planning provides a powerful set of tools for local people, via a Neighbourhood Forum group, to make sure that they get the right types of development for their community. It allows greater community involvement in the planning system to make sure there’s the right type of development for their neighbourhood and allows increased growth levels.

Neighbourhood plans are not compulsory, but in areas where they are prepared they will sit alongside Stockport’s borough-wide local plan, currently subject to a public consultation, and be used in the determination of planning applications.

The applications for redesignation is available for inspection on the Council’s website for both the Woodford and Mellor, Marple Bridge, Mill Brow & Compstall forums until 21st December 2025, which is also the deadline for any representations on applications to be submitted by email or via the Council’s consultation webpages.