Stockport's housing plan "won't deliver" enough affordable homes, the borough's Labour leader has warned.

It comes as the Lib Dem council agreed to move forward its local plan to address a housing shortage. The town hall's draft plan aims to deliver more than 15,000 new properties by 2041, with an affordable housing target of 50 percent.

Around 8,000 of these new homes are planned in the town centre. The total amount proposed would meet 85 percent of the borough's housing requirements.

A housing topic paper published alongside the draft local plan stated that the approach would lead to a 'challenge' in providing enough affordable homes.

The government's current planning guidelines ask councils to 'meet as much of an area's identified housing need as possible.'

But Stockport is facing major housing issues, with an 'unprecedented' number of people facing homelessness and more than 6,000 people on the housing register.

Cllr David Meller, leader of Stockport Labour Group, quizzed council leaders and officers about the plan during an extraordinary meeting on July 18.

He said: "Is it 'careful development' to propose the best part of 50 percent of the allocation in the plan within that [town centre] parcel on the map?

"That's on top of delivering a new school, potentially delivering a new hospital, potentially being restricted in developing to density because of what it says in relation to Manchester Airport.

"There's a portion in the document that says proposals more than 14 storeys would need to be reviewed from the get-go, which would potentially delay development of the houses that we need. That, we are saying, is 'careful development?'"

He added: "It is clear in the housing topic paper that this won't deliver the affordable homes that we need. It won't deliver the developer contributions that health and education needs as well."

Labour Cllr Claire Vibert, who chaired the meeting, said: "It has to be about making sure we have the homes that we need in Stockport, not dwellings or units, but homes, so that all of our residents have that suitable, safe and secure home.

"We know that's not the case currently. Last year, 2023/24, we had the highest number of households ever presenting as homeless in the borough.

"The highest cost of hotel accommodation for those without a home, with less than 600 social housing tenancies available, and almost no private sector tenancies available with local housing allowance.

"The situation is pretty stark, isn't it? You've got a preferred approach there but it sets out that it only delivers 85pc of the housing needs assessment.

"So do we actually have a plan here that provides those homes for the people I've just referred to who are in need?"

Lib Dem Cllr Mark Roberts, Stockport council's deputy leader, claimed the plan will protect the green belt with a brownfield first approach.

He said: "This isn't just a plan about housing figures, it's so much more than that. But it is a plan to build the right homes in the right places. It's a plan to build on the foundations of our regeneration, rather than the green belt that our residents hold dear."

He added: "Our plan is about delivery of all types and tenures of housing, making sure we build in-demand, affordable homes that are sustainable.

"Our plan will make sure that housing and work developments have the things in place like roads, schools, and hospitals, so that our communities are well provided for."

The meeting was attended by councillors from all political groups represented in Stockport town hall.

Stockport's local plan has been delayed several times in recent years, as the council has waited for the best moment to put it out for public consultation.

Housing is a hot political topic across the borough, with Stockport being the only council in the region not part of the Places for Everyone scheme, which aims to build new homes and drive investment around Greater Manchester.

A consultation on Stockport's local plan is set to begin in September.