The Liberal Democrats at Stockport Town Hall have decided to pause the consultation on the council’s Local Plan in the face of turbulence at a national government level and the lack of clarity about the intentions of the forthcoming new government in respect of planning policies.
Cllr Mark Hunter, Leader of the Council and of the Liberal Democrat Group, said: “It had been our intention to go out to public consultation in late September on a Local Plan for Stockport. Unfortunately, with a new Prime Minister due to be announced next week followed by the formation of a new government and no clarity about their intentions around planning matters, we have taken the difficult decision that this is not the time to launch such a consultation.
“We are advised that the consultation will cost in the region of £200k and could be rendered void by any changes to planning policy, forcing the council to reconsider the draft Local Plan and potentially have to repeat the exercise on a revised version. The same decision has been taken by other councils across the country and the political spectrum.
“At this time of great financial constraint, we feel the uncertainties are too great for this to be a sensible use of public funds and we are instead pausing this process whilst awaiting clarity from the new government. We will review the process in due course.”
