Stockport faces severe criticism for its poor housing delivery record, struggling to meet new home construction targets.
Stockport: The council is under fire for its dismal record on building new homes. They’ve got a 12-year wait for social housing, which is pretty shocking.
According to the latest government figures, Stockport only managed to build about half of the homes it needed from 2020 to 2023. They were supposed to build nearly 3,000 but only got to 1,613. That’s the lowest in Greater Manchester!
With 28 areas doing worse and 265 doing better, it’s clear Stockport is struggling. The council has been dealing with major housing issues, and last summer they warned about unprecedented levels of homelessness.
Right now, there are at least 8,000 households on the social housing register, and that number could be even higher. Plus, the costs for temporary housing are skyrocketing, with the council set to spend around £1 million this year alone.
Interestingly, the Lib Dem-led council isn’t part of Greater Manchester’s housing scheme and doesn’t have its own local plan yet. They do have plans to build 8,000 new homes in the town center, but the pressure is on to ramp up construction.
The Labour government has set new housing targets, saying Stockport needs to build about 2,000 homes a year, which is double what they were planning before. There’s talk of giving more power to the Greater Manchester mayor to override local planning decisions, which could shake things up.
Mark Roberts, the deputy leader of the council, mentioned they’re trying to protect green belt land with a “brownfield first” approach. But he’s also accused Labour of taking local decision-making away from the community.
Stockport is working on its local plan, with an update shared recently. They’re asking residents and businesses to help identify sites for development or protection. The plan is expected to be published in summer 2026.
However, the document has faced delays, especially after the Labour government announced new housing targets. David Meller, leader of the Stockport Labour group, called the housing delivery test figures “damning” and blamed the Lib Dems for the situation.
He argued that the updated planning rules could allow developers to bypass local decisions, leading to developments that don’t meet community needs. With around 8,000 applications on the waiting list, the need for more homes is clear.
Roberts defended the Lib Dems, saying Labour is using the local plan as a political tool. He believes Stockport would have a local plan ready if Labour hadn’t changed the planning rules.
Last year, Stockport council shared plans to build 8,000 homes in the town center over the next 15 years to tackle the housing shortage. There are also developments planned outside the town, including 200 homes in Hazel Grove and 500 in Woodford.
Some planning decisions have been overturned after appeals, which has raised concerns about the loss of green space. Meller pointed out that these inquiries are costing taxpayers a lot of money, which could be better spent elsewhere.
He emphasized the need to get the local plan done and build homes responsibly across the borough. It’s a tough situation, and everyone’s hoping for a solution soon.
