134 Discounted Homes Proposed Off Shakespeare Road, Stockport 2026

Key Points

• Westchurch Homes has put forward plans for 134 affordable homes in Bredbury, Stockport.
• The development would cover 13 acres of Green Belt land located at Shakespeare Road.
• One-to-four bedroom discounted tenure houses will make up the development.
• The site is set aside for residential development in the emerging local plan of Stockport Council.
• Negotiations have taken place between Westchurch Homes and registered social landlord Mosscare St Vincent’s regarding acquisition of the site, provided that planning permission is granted.
• Stockport suffers from a housing land supply shortfall as well as being able to prove less than two years of housing land supply against a five-year requirement.
• Planning application has reference number DC/098893 and can be found at Stockport Council’s planning portal.
• Maybern Planning is providing advice to the developers whereas MCK Associates is providing design services.

Stockport (Manchester Mirror) August 18, 2026 – Westchurch Bredbury homes plans have been set out for a proposed development of 134 affordable properties on 13 acres of Green Belt land off Shakespeare Road, on the southern edge of the uk/local/stockport/">Stockport town.

The proposal, submitted by Westchurch Homes, would provide a mix of one- to four-bedroom homes under discounted-tenure arrangements. The site has been identified for residential development in Stockport Council’s emerging local plan, according to Dan Whelan of Place North West.

The development remains subject to the planning process. The application can be found on Stockport Council’s planning portal under reference DC/098893.

What is planned for the Bredbury site?

Westchurch Homes is proposing 134 homes on land off Shakespeare Road. The site extends across approximately 13 acres and is currently designated as Green Belt land.

According to Place North West’s report by Dan Whelan, the planned properties would range from one-bedroom to four-bedroom homes. The scheme is intended to provide discounted-tenure housing rather than an entirely open-market development.

The available report does not provide a detailed breakdown of the number of homes by bedroom size, the proposed layout, the precise tenure model, parking provision, landscaping or the anticipated construction timetable. Those details would normally be examined through the planning documents and subsequent assessment by Stockport Council.

The proposal is therefore at an early stage in the planning process. Planning permission has not been confirmed, and the scheme could be amended as the application is assessed.

Why is Green Belt land being considered?

The proposed site is within the Green Belt, making its development a significant planning matter. Green Belt policies generally place restrictions on new building, although land may be considered for release or development through local planning processes where councils identify a need for housing and assess sites through their plan-making system.

In this case, the land has been earmarked for residential development in Stockport Council’s emerging local plan. That identification does not itself guarantee planning permission. A planning application must still be assessed against relevant national and local planning policies, together with matters such as transport, infrastructure, ecology, landscape impact, drainage and the relationship with existing communities.

The site’s inclusion in the emerging local plan is likely to form part of the developer’s case for residential development. However, the planning authority will need to consider the application on its own merits and take account of representations received during the process.

How many affordable homes are proposed?

Westchurch Homes is seeking permission for 134 discounted-tenure properties. Place North West describes the homes as affordable properties, while the report does not give a further breakdown of the exact tenure arrangements.

Discounted-tenure housing can take different forms, depending on the final proposal and the agreement between the developer, planning authority and housing provider. The available report does not specify whether the homes would be delivered as shared ownership, discounted market sale, affordable rent or another approved tenure.

The final tenure structure would be important for prospective residents because it would affect eligibility, purchase or rental arrangements and the level of discount available. These details would need to be confirmed through the planning documents and any later agreement involving the registered provider.

What role could Mosscare St Vincent’s play?

Westchurch Homes is in discussions with Mosscare St Vincent’s about a potential deal under which the registered provider would acquire the site, subject to planning approval, according to the planning documents cited by Place North West.

Mosscare St Vincent’s is a registered provider of social housing. Its potential involvement indicates that the scheme could have a housing-provider role beyond the submission of the planning application.

The discussions are not described as a completed transaction. The proposed acquisition remains conditional on planning permission, meaning the ownership or delivery arrangements could depend on the outcome of the application and negotiations between the parties.

The available report does not state whether Mosscare St Vincent’s would own all of the completed homes, manage a proportion of them or take another role in the development. Further information would be required before those arrangements can be reported as final.

Why does Stockport’s housing position matter?

Stockport Council has a housing land supply deficit, according to the report by Dan Whelan of Place North West. The council is able to demonstrate less than two years’ worth of housing against a statutory requirement of five years.

The report also states that Stockport is one of three North West local authorities placed on notice over sluggish housing delivery. This context is relevant because councils are expected to maintain an adequate supply of deliverable housing land to meet identified needs.

A shortfall in housing land supply can affect how planning applications are considered. It may increase the importance of proposals that would provide additional homes, although it does not remove the need to assess other planning issues or override Green Belt protections automatically.

The housing-supply position is one factor in the planning balance. The council will still need to consider the effect of building on Green Belt land and the development’s potential impact on the surrounding area.

Who is advising the development team?

Maybern Planning is advising Westchurch Homes on planning matters, while MCK Associates is leading the design work, according to Place North West.

The planning consultant’s role is likely to include preparing and coordinating the planning submission, responding to council queries and addressing policy issues. The design team will be responsible for developing the site layout, appearance of the homes, access arrangements and other design-related elements.

The report does not identify the intended contractor or provide a construction programme. It also does not say when a planning decision is expected.

What happens next in the planning process?

The application will proceed through Stockport Council’s planning system under reference DC/098893. The council’s planning database provides access to new, existing and historical applications, including weekly lists of new submissions.

The next stages are likely to include publication of the application documents, consultation with residents and statutory consultees, assessment by planning officers and a decision under the council’s planning procedures.

During the assessment, issues likely to be considered could include:

• The principle of developing Green Belt land.
• The site’s status in the emerging local plan.
• The contribution of the scheme to Stockport’s housing needs.
• The affordability and tenure of the proposed homes.
• Highway access and traffic effects on Shakespeare Road and nearby routes.
• Walking, cycling and public transport connections.
• School, health and other local infrastructure capacity.
• Drainage, flooding and utilities.
• Ecology, biodiversity and landscape impact.
• The relationship between the new homes and existing properties.

The available report does not state whether the application has been scheduled for a planning committee hearing or whether officers have recommended approval or refusal. No final decision should therefore be inferred from the submission of the plans.

What has the developer said?

The Place North West report identifies Westchurch Homes as the developer behind the proposal and outlines the company’s discussions with Mosscare St Vincent’s. It does not include a direct quotation from a Westchurch Homes representative or a formal statement from the housebuilder.

For that reason, claims about the developer’s motivations, expected benefits or response to objections should not be attributed beyond the information contained in the published report and planning documents.

Similarly, the available coverage does not contain a direct comment from Stockport Council, local residents, councillors or Mosscare St Vincent’s. Their views and any formal representations would need to be established from consultation responses or separately published statements.

What could the proposal mean for local residents?

If approved and built, the scheme would increase the number of homes in Bredbury and could create opportunities for households seeking discounted housing. The one- to four-bedroom range would potentially provide accommodation for different household sizes, although the final allocation and eligibility rules have not been published.

The development could also affect residents near Shakespeare Road. Potential effects might include additional vehicle movements, changes to views and the character of the area, construction activity and pressure on local services. These matters would be considered through the planning process rather than determined solely by the headline number of homes.

The proposal’s location on Green Belt land is likely to make the application particularly sensitive. Supporters may focus on the housing need and the proposed affordable element, while opponents may raise concerns about loss of open land, traffic, infrastructure and the precedent for further development.

Background: Why is the site important?

The Shakespeare Road site is located on the southern fringe of Bredbury in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport. It comprises about 13 acres of Green Belt land and has been earmarked for housing in Stockport Council’s emerging local plan.

Stockport’s housing position provides wider context for the proposal. Place North West reports that the council can demonstrate less than two years of housing land supply against a five-year statutory requirement and has been placed on notice, alongside two other North West authorities, over slow housing delivery.

The council’s emerging local plan is intended to guide future development and identify land for new homes. However, an emerging plan can change through consultation, examination and adoption. The site’s identification within that process is therefore relevant but not equivalent to an implemented planning permission.

Westchurch Homes has also been linked to discussions with Mosscare St Vincent’s over the possible acquisition of the site, conditional on permission being granted. Maybern Planning and MCK Associates are supporting the application in planning and design roles respectively.

Prediction: What could happen to Bredbury residents?

For Bredbury residents, the immediate effect is likely to be increased scrutiny and public discussion rather than immediate construction. The application must first pass through Stockport Council’s planning process, and the outcome will depend on the council’s assessment of housing need, Green Belt policy, design, transport, infrastructure and environmental effects.

If permission is granted, the project could expand the supply of discounted homes in the area and potentially provide an opportunity for a registered housing provider to become involved. It could also lead to temporary construction disruption and longer-term changes in traffic, local services and the character of the site.

If permission is refused or the proposal is materially changed, the number, tenure and layout of the homes could differ from the current plans. The most reliable indicators for local residents will be the published planning documents, consultation responses, officer reports and any decision issued under application reference DC/098893.