Stockport Council leader Mark Roberts has spoken out about proposals for a new town with up to 20,000 homes near the borough's border.

The village of Adlington in Cheshire is being considered as one location to build the next generation of towns in England.

It is based around three miles away from Woodford in Stockport, and is within reach of major routes into Stockport and Manchester via the A555, A6, and A34.

Stockport's Lib Dem council chief has warned that the large scale of housebuilding in and around the area could have a 'huge impact' on the borough's roads and public services.

He also said the government has made 'no attempt whatsoever' to listen to local concerns about the proposals in Adlington, and the impact it could have on roads and public services.

The Manchester skyline as seen from Adlington (Image - SWNS)

It comes after Cheshire East council voted to oppose plans for a new town in the village.

Stockport council leader Mark Roberts said: "Their [the government's] desire seems to be to force the concreting over of the greenbelt which we see replicated across Stockport, the rest of Greater Manchester and the North West.

"The government have repeatedly disregarded the legitimate concerns of local people and seek to tie the hands of local councillors in order to achieve unrealistic targets.

"They seem to think if they hide away in Westminster and put their fingers in their ears then we'll stop standing up for our residents, they're sorely mistaken."

Stockport was given higher housebuilding targets by the government after Labour's general election win last year.

The Lib Dem-controlled council has a brownfield-first approach to development, and has led massive regeneration plans focused in Stockport town centre which aims to build 8,000 new homes.

Local residents protest the proposed development of Adlington New Town (Image - SWNS)

Under Stockport's draft local plan, which is currently going through consultation, the borough could build 25,000 new homes by 2042.

Speaking on the scale of housebuilding planned around Stockport, Cllr Roberts said: "It will have a huge impact on Stockport's public infrastructure if the Labour government forces its will.

"Public services and infrastructure are one of the biggest concerns people have when looking at new developments- the government clearly think it's easier to tell residents to pipe down rather than engage with them properly.

"We Lib Dems want to see new homes delivered but they have to be the right homes in the right places and delivered with communities, not imposed upon them, Labour needs to start listening."

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government defended its plans to build more homes across the country.

A spokesperson said: "We have engaged with local leaders on new towns and will continue to do so.

"Our plans to build 1.5 million homes and new towns will not come at the expense of the environment and we will maintain strong protections for the green belt, whilst restoring the dream of homeownership for families across the country."

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