24/09/2026
The Stockport Local Plan final consultation is now OPEN, and this is your last chance to have your say.
Stockport Council has published its final draft Local Plan for the Regulation 19 consultation. It runs from 23rd September, until the 8th November 2026.
What does that mean?
This is the last stage before the plan goes to an independent Planning Inspector, appointed by the Government, who will hold a public examination and decide whether the plan can go ahead. Every comment made now goes straight to that Inspector.
How is this different from the last consultation (Regulation 18)?
At Reg 18 the plan was still a draft, and you could comment on anything, including simply saying you didn't like it.
Reg 19 is much more formal.
The Inspector can only consider comments on whether the plan is:
- Legally compliant: has the council followed the correct process and consulted properly?
- Sound: is it positively prepared, justified by evidence, deliverable, and consistent with national planning policy?
That means "I don't want houses here" won't count on its own. Your objection needs to explain why the plan is unsound. If you objected against SLP18 last year, please object again as those objections do not count for SLP19 .
If you didn’t object against SLP18, and want to send your objection against SLP19, please do - your objections really do matter.
Grounds you could object on regarding Sandown Fields (site ref HOM 2.18):
- Not justified: the land meets all the criteria of Green Belt and is still safeguarded for the SEMMMS (Hazel Grove bypass) road route. Allocating it for housing contradicts the council's own transport plans.
- When SEMMMs does go ahead, any homes that may be built there would likely face compulsory purchase in the future, at taxpayers' expense.
- The embankment needed to raise the SEMMMs carriageway over the railway line will take up 70% of the land identified for development, making any such development not viable.
- Not justified: the proposed access roads are unsuitable and don't meet necessary highways standards.
- The suggested mitigation remedies to accommodate such a development are not viable and would have a massively negative effect on the local area.
- Not consistent with national policy: Green Belt release requires "exceptional circumstances." Ask whether these have really been shown! We do not believe they have.
-NPPF 2026 states that developments should not go ahead on areas of flood risk when other none risk areas are available; Sandown Fields is a recognised area of flood risk, and as such any proposed development should not go ahead.
- Government documents state that the maximum walk time to an active railway station ( Hazel Grove) from the furthest point of new developments is 10 minutes . To walk to HG station from Sandown Fields would take more than 25 minutes.
How to respond:
1️⃣ Use the council's online form (link below). It's the preferred route.
2️⃣ Say whether you object, and give the policy number or site reference you're commenting on.
3️⃣ Explain which soundness test it fails and why, then say you want the site to be removed completely from the plan.
4️⃣ Tick whether you'd like to speak at the examination hearings.
Top tips:
Type your response first offline and then paste it into the form.
The form has no save button and a 30-minute limit per question.
You can't respond anonymously. You'll need to give an email or postal address.
Use your own words. The Inspector looks at the strength of the arguments, not the number of identical comments.
Can't use the form? Email [email protected] or post to Planning Policy Team, 4th Floor, Stopford House, Piccadilly, Stockport SK1 3XE.
👉 Link to respond online here: https://www.stockport.gov.uk/start/stockport-local-plan-september-2026-regulation-19-consultation
Deadline: 8 November 2026.
Please share this post, because every voice matters at this stage. 💚
You can also read more on our website: www.hggag.co.uk
