New housing targets across Cheshire

Changes to housing targets as part of new planning rules are likely to have a major impact on the countryside across Cheshire.

The problem with the new targets is that they are based on a percentage increase in existing housing stock numbers in an area and do not reflect projected population or household growth rates in that area. As a result, many areas are seeing hugely inflated “housing need” figures.

Housing targets for Cheshire local authorities

Note that these figures are per year.

Previous targets in brackets.

Cheshire East 2,461 (977)

Cheshire West and Chester 1,914 (532)

Halton 471 (203)

Stockport 1,815 (1,097)

Trafford 1,599 (part of Greater Manchester planning area, but about double recent delivery rates in the borough)

Warrington 1,064 (791)

Wirral 1,602 (728)

Source – Indicative local housing need December 2024 (GOV.UK)

Targets have risen hugely for all the local authority areas we cover. The new targets are mandatory, with government saying they will take over a local authority’s planning function if targets are not reached. 

We want to see a more realistic approach to target setting – one that protects the countryside from inappropriate development and also contributes more effectively to solving the housing crisis. We have therefore contacted all the MPs who cover Cheshire constituencies to explain the issues and ask for their help.

Read our letter to MPs about the housing targets