Some of Stockport's green spaces could be lost because of government changes to planning, the council's deputy leader has warned.

Lib Dem councillor Mark Roberts said changes to national planning policy could see spaces between Stockport's towns and communities, called the green belt, used for building projects such as creating new homes.

Land designated as green belt is intended to limit new development to stop neighbouring areas from merging together in 'unrestricted' expansion.

But planning changes by the Labour government to boost housebuilding could see some green belt land built on as part of the 'grey belt'.

This was defined by the government in December as areas which fall into the green belt but have already been developed, such as disused car parks, or land which does not 'strongly contribute' to the purpose of the green belt.

But Cllr Roberts raised concerns about new guidance shared with councils over the changes.

He said: "With this developers' charter to concrete over the green belt, Labour have decided to simply rename much-valued green belt as the 'grey belt' and hope that residents will shrug their shoulders.

"It isn't just previously developed land, as they had originally promised.

"Our greenspaces give us a huge improvement to our quality of life, as well as critical ecological benefits, regardless of what a London-based Labour government arbitrarily decides should be its label."

Land designated as green belt is intended to limit new development (Image - Nub News)

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said the new plans are clear that councils should "build on brownfield land first", and that any grey belt development should "prioritise previously developed land like disused car parks."

A MHCLG spokesperson added: "We have inherited the worst housing crisis in living memory and all areas, including Stockport, must play their part as we deliver 1.5 million homes as part of our plan for change.

"Our reforms will protect our natural landscapes and deliver the homes and infrastructure we need at the same time, so we can restore the dream of homeownership to families across the country."

Housing is a major issue in Stockport, where there are around 8,000 households on the social housing register.

Figures published in December from the government's housing delivery test revealed that between 2020 to 2023 Stockport should have built 2,991 new homes, but managed a total of 1,613.

The Lib Dem-run council does not currently have a local plan for housing, and postponed a draft last year when the government introduced new housebuilding targets.

The updated housebuilding targets mean Stockport needs to create 1,906 homes a year, nearly double the previous figure of 1,097.

New housebuilding targets mean Stockport must create 1,906 new homes per year (Image - Nub News)

The council's local plan is now progressing, having recently completed a 'call for sites' exercise asking for views on protecting or developing land in Stockport, with local plan adoption scheduled for winter 2027/28.

While this work moves forward, schemes to build new homes in the borough are ongoing, including plans for 8,000 homes in Stockport town centre over the next 15 years.

Cllr Roberts added: "Our draft local plan was a brownfield first solution that would have built the much-needed homes where they were needed in Stockport.

"Labour have cast that aside and are instead trying to give developers free reign to build on the most profitable land available.

"This means green spaces will be bulldozed, whereas the eyesores that are brownfield sites will remain untouched for generations."

Cllr David Meller, leader of Stockport Labour group, said the government's new green belt guidance will help tackle the housing crisis in the borough.

"This guidance is not a 'developers' charter', nor is it some secret plot to pave over Stockport's green spaces," he said.

"It is a measured and necessary policy designed to tackle the housing crisis that Stockport's Liberal Democrat-led council has utterly failed to address.

"Labour's approach here is responsible and community-focused – prioritising brownfield sites, sustainable infrastructure, and affordable housing, while ensuring green spaces that truly matter are protected."

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