18th September 2025
Stockport Council has received a formal warning from Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook over what he described as “repeated failure” to make progress on the borough’s local plan—a key document that shapes where new housing, infrastructure and development will take place. Stockport Nub News+2Place North West+2
What’s Going On
- The government has ordered the council to carry out an initial consultation on its updated local plan by Christmas Eve 2025, with the final plan to be submitted for examination by 30 November 2026. Place North West+1
- Since withdrawing from the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework in 2020, Stockport has not yet progressed to a formal consultation on its own plan—even though other boroughs across Greater Manchester have moved ahead and adopted a joint plan. Place North West+2Stockport Nub News+2
- Delays have been blamed partly on changes at national level—new policy frameworks, revised guidance, shifting targets—and political disagreements within the council. Place North West+2Stockport Nub News+2
Council’s Position
Council leader Mark Roberts and council representatives have pushed back on claims that nothing has been done. They say:
- A draft local plan was ready for consultation in spring 2024, but national events prevented that from going ahead. Place North West+1
- The council is committed to completing the revised timeline set out in July 2025. Place North West+1
- A Green Belt assessment only became possible once national guidance was published in early 2025. That, they say, has been a necessary but time-consuming step. Place North West+1
What This Means Locally
For residents of Romiley and elsewhere in Stockport, the signage of delay and uncertainty carries a number of practical implications:
- Housing growth & supply: Without an up-to-date local plan, there is risk of speculative development—where developers push for planning permission in places not properly planned for—and uncertainty over infrastructure delivery. Place North West+2Stockport Nub News+2
- Green Belt concerns: Some communities worry that gaps in planning leave green belt land more vulnerable. The council leadership insists it aims to balance protecting green belt with meeting housing needs. Stockport Nub News+1
- Political impact: The issue has become something of a flashpoint locally—tensions between political parties over responsibility for the delays, and between council ambitions and national rules. Place North West+1
What Happens Next
- The council must now deliver the consultation by 24 December 2025. Place North West+1
- Final submission of the plan is due by 30 November 2026. If the council misses these deadlines, the government could use its powers to intervene. Place North West+1
- Meanwhile, public consultation (Regulation 18) is expected to begin soon under the updated schedule. Place North West+1
What Romiley Residents Should Keep an Eye On
- Consultation opportunities: Once the council begins its consultation, local people will have a voice in shaping where housing goes, what green belt is preserved, and what infrastructure is planned.
- Transport, schools, services: New housing often means need for new or upgraded services—roads, schools, health care. The local plan should address them.
- Protection of green spaces: Maintaining green belt protections remains a major concern for many. Any changes will be watched closely.
Romiley, like many parts of Stockport, stands to be affected significantly depending on how quickly and how well the council moves forward. Residents will want reassurance not just of speed, but of careful planning that respects local character, infrastructure capacity, and environmental protection.
