The Planning & Highways Regulation Committee of Stockport Council met on Thursday 13 August 2026 to consider several development applications and a report on planning appeals and enforcement. The meeting's agenda focused on significant planning proposals, including the redevelopment of two schools.

Development Applications

The committee was scheduled to consider two major development applications:

Bramhall High School

A report was presented regarding the proposed demolition of existing buildings at Bramhall High School and the erection of a new three-storey school building, including a sports hall, replacement playing fields, a 3G football pitch, and new car parking and bus waiting areas. The recommendation was to grant planning permission, subject to conditions and a legal agreement for a commuted sum of £13,902 to fund long-term monitoring of biodiversity net gain compensatory habitats.

The report detailed the proposal's alignment with national and local planning policies, including those related to the Green Belt and the importance of state-funded school development. It also addressed concerns raised by local residents regarding traffic, noise, privacy, and the loss of playing fields, while noting the proposed qualitative improvements to sports provision. The application was considered to be in accordance with the development plan, with the public benefits outweighing any negative consequences.

Moorfield Primary School

The committee was also scheduled to consider a report on the proposed demolition of existing buildings at Moorfield Primary School and the construction of a new part single, part two-storey school building. The plans included the installation of Ground Source Heat Pumps, a new Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA), and a sub-station. The proposal also involved changes to access points and car park layout, as well as new landscaping. Crucially, the plans included the erection and subsequent removal of temporary modular classrooms on the main school site and the creation of a temporary car park on land to the north of Lyndhurst Avenue.

The recommendation was to grant planning permission, subject to conditions, a legal agreement for a fee of £11,453 for monitoring on-site Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), and the receipt of either signed District Level Licensing scheme (DLL) forms or sufficient survey data to inform a Natural England licence, due to the confirmed presence of Great Crested Newts (GCN). The report highlighted that parts of the school site are designated as Local Open Space, and the temporary use of land opposite the school for a car park would represent a departure from the development plan. However, it was assessed that other factors relating to achieving sustainable communities outweighed the temporary loss of this open space. The report also addressed concerns about the impact on residential amenity, highways, and ecology.

Planning Appeals, Enforcement Appeals and Enforcement Notices

A report from the Chief Governance Officer and Monitoring Officer was scheduled for consideration, summarising recent appeal decisions, current planning appeals, and enforcement actions across various area committees. The committee was recommended to note this report. The report detailed numerous ongoing planning and enforcement appeals and notices across different areas of Stockport, including cases related to residential extensions, changes of use, high hedges, and breaches of planning conditions.