Stockport Council & Other News

Who was told – Vicki Bates (vicki.bates@stockport.gov.uk); michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk; cllr.rachel.bresnahan@stockport.gov.uk; cllr.angie.clark@stockport.gov.uk; cllr.mark.roberts@stockport.gov.uk; Lisa Smart – Enquiries (enquiries@lisasmart.org.uk); liz.sykes@Stockport.gov.uk

Fri 11/07/2025 00:55

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to express my serious concern regarding recent environmental changes and their associated risks at the hillside area adjacent to Padden Brook, SK6. This area, which I understand to be protected land, has recently been denuded of trees and shrubs, with no apparent restoration or mitigation works in place.

This loss of vegetation is already having visible and potentially dangerous consequences:

1. Increased Surface Water Runoff
   Rainwater now flows unchecked down the hillside, directly into the culvert under the road. The culvert may be struggling to cope with this increased volume of water.
2. Damage to Road Infrastructure
   The road surface above the culvert is beginning to break up, which may indicate water infiltration and underlying structural issues. If this continues, it could lead to collapse or further deterioration.
3. Potential Risk to Nearby Housing
   The above issues pose a growing flood and subsidence risk to nearby residential properties, which could result in structural damage, increased insurance costs, or devaluation.

Given these concerns, I respectfully request that the Council or relevant environmental body take the following actions as a matter of urgency:

• Commission an environmental and hydrological assessment of the area;
• Inspect and, if necessary, repair or upgrade the culvert and road infrastructure;
• Investigate the circumstances under which the vegetation was removed, and whether this complies with local planning or conservation regulations;
• Consider immediate erosion control measures, such as replanting or engineered slope stabilization, to prevent further degradation.

I would appreciate a response outlining the actions your office intends to take and any timescales involved. I would also be grateful to be kept informed of any investigations or decisions regarding this issue.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response.

Yours faithfully

Sheila Oliver

When Stockport Council agreed in November 2024 to “tackle developer blight on the community,” it likely referred to a set of policy changes, enforcement efforts, and planning reforms aimed at addressing the negative effects caused by developers who:

• Leave land or buildings unused after demolition or partial construction,
• Fail to complete developments in a timely manner,
• Disregard planning conditions, such as green space or community facilities,
• Neglect property maintenance, causing visual and social decline in neighbourhoods.

💥 What “Developer Blight” Typically Includes

In practical terms, “developer blight” refers to:

• Eyesores like unfinished buildings or derelict lots,
• Broken planning promises (e.g., missing schools, parks, or sports facilities),
• Long delays between planning approval and actual delivery,
• Neglect of social, environmental or heritage considerations,
• Disruption to local residents during extended development phases.

🛠️ What Tackling It Could Mean in Practice

Here’s how a council like Stockport might act on this pledge:

1. Stronger Enforcement

• Use of Section 215 Notices (Town and Country Planning Act) to compel developers to tidy up unsightly land or buildings.
• Increased planning condition monitoring, with fines or stop notices for non-compliance.
• Naming developers who breach terms (“rogue developer” policies).

2. Developer Bonds or Deposits

• Require performance bonds—money held in escrow until projects are completed to agreed standards.
• Penalise developers financially for excessive delays or abandonment.

3. Tighter Planning Agreements (Section 106)

• Stricter legal obligations on developers to deliver agreed community benefits (e.g., playgrounds, green infrastructure, affordable housing).
• Deadlines for each stage of delivery built into contracts.

4. Public-Private Accountability

• Publicly tracking developers’ performance on planning portals or dashboards.
• More regular updates to councillors and residents about major schemes.

5. Reclaim or Repurpose Land

• Use Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) to take back unused sites and bring them into productive public or community use.
• Work with housing associations or community land trusts to develop stalled plots.

6. Community Empowerment

• Increased rights for residents to report breaches or delays.
• Transparency about developer contributions and planning gain spending.

🧭 Why This Matters in Stockport

Stockport has a history of controversy over:

• Missing community sports facilities promised in development agreements,
• Contaminated land (e.g., Harcourt Street/brickworks sites),
• Allegations of vexatious treatment of residents raising planning concerns,
• Delays and incomplete delivery in urban regeneration projects.

This motion could signal a shift toward greater accountability and pro-resident enforcement.

🔍 Summary

Tackling “developer blight” means confronting practices that harm local environments and trust—by holding developers to account and protecting community interests. It’s a blend of enforcement, transparency, policy tightening, and possibly reclaiming neglected sites.

Here’s the exact motion passed at the Council Meeting on 21 November 2024 regarding tackling developer blight:

🗳️ Motion Details

“The council calls for more powers to tackle the neglect and blight on our communities caused by private developers. We believe amendments to the laws relating to compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) and blighted land are required, to:

• Give councils greater powers to take over ownership of derelict land and property which has become a blight on the local community;
• Make CPOs cheaper to administer, simpler to implement and faster to progress;
• Change the emphasis with CPOs, the legal requirement should be placed on a site’s owner to demonstrate progression of a scheme, thereby reducing the costs to local authorities;
• Consider increased taxation to tackle problems where blight and anti‑social behaviour occur, the government could enable the funds raised to be used to facilitate construction of new homes;
• Enable councils to convert affected land into community assets, which they can retain, or dispose of for the construction of housing.

The motion also asked the Chief Executive to write to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Mayor of Greater Manchester highlighting:

• The need for change,
• Local residents’ difficulties,
• Stockport’s limited powers and resources to address the issue. reddit.com+8democracy.stockport.gov.uk+8opencouncil.network+8

🛠️ What This Means in Practice

Here’s how the Council aims to translate this motion into action:

1. Stronger CPO powers – The Council is pushing for legal reform to make compulsory purchase quicker, cheaper, and easier for publicly neglected or derelict private sites.
2. Responsibility shift onto developers – If developers don’t actively progress construction, they must legally demonstrate why, or face faster CPOs initiated by the Council.
3. Tax incentives or penalties – Exploring taxation, potentially on unused or unsightly sites, with proceeds channelled into community-led development or housing projects.
4. Community reuse schemes – Councils could take control of blighted sites to convert them into public assets (parks, community centres) or lay groundwork for affordable homes.
5. Advocacy at regional/national level – By formally writing to ministers and the Mayor, the Council is seeking broader legislative and funding powers to support these measures.

🔍 Why It Matters for Stockport

Stockport has encountered several problematic developments:

• Contaminated or derelict sites, like the Harcourt Street brickworks plot.
• Unfulfilled planning obligations, e.g. missing community sports facilities.
• Abandoned construction sites, creating prolonged disruption or visual deterioration.

This motion empowers the Council to proactively address these issues—demanding both:

• Immediate action via local CPOs, enforcement, and accountability, and
• Systemic reform by lobbying for expanded legal tools and funding.

✅ Next Steps

• The Chief Executive’s letter to government and regional bodies will establish Stockport’s formal position and request legislative backing.
• Keep an eye out for Council updates or press releases, which might mention:
  • New CPOs initiated,
  • Enforcement actions (e.g., Section 215 notices),
  • Budgeting for site conversions or community asset projects.
• Follow any upcoming consultations or local plans, where public engagement will shape how these powers are applied.