CPRE Cheshire response to 2025 Stockport Local Plan consultation

Stockport Council recently consulted on its new Local Plan, which will underpin planning decisions until 2042. While we welcome some of the aspirations in the Plan –  including those concerning town centre regeneration – we are concerned about the amount of Green Belt proposed for development. Consultation on this stage of the Plan closed on 21 December 2025.

Loss of Green Belt

Under Plan proposals, 27 sites outside the current built-up area are proposed for housing (total capacity 8,965 dwellings). 2 sites outside the built-up area are proposed for employment with a total area of over 25 hectares. The net effect would be to substantially extend urban sprawl in this part of Greater Manchester.

Housing need numbers

We acknowledge that the loss of Green Belt has been prompted in part by the increased housing need figures identified by central government.

However, we consider the Government’s method for calculating housing need within individual Boroughs is fundamentally flawed and that the Plan’s housing targets should instead be based on objectively assessed local and sub-regional demographic trends.

Grey belt designation

We also acknowledge that many of the sites proposed for removal from the Green Belt are being put forward as they are considered by the Council to constitute “grey belt”.

However, CPRE nationally has pulled together evidence to show how flawed the concept of grey belt is as currently defined. Their study of major housing schemes approved on appeal by Inspectors found that 88% of the new homes would be built on previously undeveloped countryside. The term “grey belt” is therefore a misnomer.

Whether or not the sites are considered to count as grey belt as defined by the Government, the fact is that Stockport’s Plan proposals would cause substantial and permanent harm to the Green Belt.

What we want to see

We broadly support many of the Plan’s detailed policies. We do however suggest wording changes where we think that this would improve the operation of individual policies.

Our comments are designed to ensure that the Plan will (for example):

• Protect and enhance as effectively as possible Stockport Borough’s important rural and urban fringe landscapes and settlements.
• Give greater protection to Best and Most Versatile agricultural land, so that this may continue to fully contribute to the nation’s food security.
• Promote a sustainable transport system which minimises carbon emissions and links effectively with land use planning.
• Protect and enhance biodiversity, tree and hedgerow coverage as effectively as possible in line with the Greater Manchester Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
• Guide renewable energy proposals to the most sustainable locations and focus solar power proposals onto existing buildings and previously developed land as a first preference.
• Ensure a clear and on-going link to the aspirations of local communities, for example as expressed via the Neighbourhood Plan process.

National Planning Policy Framework draft revisions

The Government has published draft revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). As these are still subject to change, we have based our comments on the current active version of the NPPF. It is clear that any revisions will have an impact on the development of this Plan.

While we welcome the likely reinforced commitment to strategic spatial plans and a brownfield-first approach within existing settlements, the problems of the stock-based method of calculating housing need and the confusing concept of grey belt remain.

We will be responding to the NPPF consultation along these lines and recommend Stockport Council does the same.

More information

Stockport Local Plan consultation

CPRE Cheshire comments on Stockport Local Plan consultation – full document

Local Plans – what they are and how they affect planning decisions