Spending on emergency housing in Stockport is set to hit £2m – with the council urging 'radical intervention' from the government to improve the situation.

The town hall's bill for temporary accommodation has doubled in 12 months due to rising levels of homelessness and the cost of using hotels.

It follows a council report last summer which sounded the alarm over 'unprecedented' levels of people facing homelessness in the borough.

Stockport council runs three temporary accommodation schemes alongside a number of flats, but in 2022 these reached capacity and the authority turned to hotels, leading to higher spending.

Social housing is in high demand in Stockport, where there are around 8,000 households waiting for a property, with some facing a wait of up to 12 years.

Stockport Homes manages the borough's social housing and is owned by the council.

A spokesperson for Stockport Homes said: "This is a national issue from which Stockport unfortunately is not immune where the number of people experiencing homelessness is rising.

"Our teams are working tirelessly to provide safe, suitable accommodation but the rising costs and the impact on individuals and families waiting for a permanent home are growing.

"We will continue to have a focus to minimise the impact of this."

Stockport Homes' Headquarters (Image - Nub News)

Lib Dem councillor Jake Austin, Stockport council's housing lead, said: "As the cost of living continues to push people out of the private rental market, radical intervention is required by the government to deliver a permanent solution.

"While we welcome some of the commitments we have seen in recent months, it is not enough for this Labour government to tinker around the edges. Stockport needs the fair funding from this government that will help us do more.

"In the face of Labour's inaction, we will continue our work to tackle this issue – delivering thousands of homes in our town centre, intervening early to prevent homelessness, and ensuring our residents receive the benefits they are entitled to."

Cllr Christine Carrigan, leader of Stockport council's opposition Labour group, said: "Labour has inherited a housing crisis at boiling point, after 14 years of Conservative failure, five years of which were propped up by the Lib Dems.

"Here in Stockport, the consequences are all too visible: unaffordable rents, rising evictions, and far too many families being let down.

"We've called for greater investment in council homes, and backed measures to strengthen tenancy support services.

"Labour nationally is now taking decisive action. Homelessness services will see nearly £1 billion in funding next year. In February, we announced an additional £30m targeted at areas facing the greatest housing pressures, including here in Stockport, which will receive £177,026.

"This money will help prevent evictions before they happen and support people off the streets and into stable accommodation. It's a lifeline for keeping people in their homes, close to schools, GPs, and their communities.

"Whilst the Lib Dems try and play petty politics, it is this Labour government that is scrapping 'no fault' evictions and delivering the biggest increase in social housing in a generation, to give families a better route to a secure home."

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