The Planning and Highways Regulation Committee of Stockport Council met on Thursday 25 September 2025, approving plans for a new apartment building in Cheadle and noting a report on planning appeals and enforcement.

Buckley House, Carrs Road, Cheadle

The committee granted planning permission for the construction of a two-and-a-half-storey apartment building at Buckley House, 2B Carrs Road, Cheadle, subject to conditions and the completion of a Section 106 agreement. The development will provide six apartments, with accommodation in the roof space.

The application site was previously a car park associated with former office buildings that have since been converted to residential use. The proposed development includes landscaping, shared lawns, tree planting, shrub planting, and 14 trees along the eastern boundary. Six car parking spaces are proposed, including one accessible space, with provision for bin and cycle storage.

A key discussion point was the site's location within Flood Zone 3, the highest risk category. However, updated flood risk assessments and Environment Agency flood maps indicated a reduction in the flood risk classification to Flood Zone 2, a medium risk. While the Lead Local Flood Authority maintained an objection regarding the principle of underground storage tanks, the Environment Agency and United Utilities raised no objections, subject to conditions. Officers concluded that drainage and flood risk queries had been addressed, and the proposed development was acceptable.

Concerns were raised by councillors regarding the size and robustness of the proposed attenuation tank, the potential for debris to block inlets, and the long-term maintenance of the drainage system. Sue Glithero, Senior Planning Manager, explained that the tank's size was determined by the building's footprint and the need to offset water that would otherwise run off the car park. She assured the committee that a condition would be imposed to secure a drainage management and maintenance plan for the lifetime of the development, addressing these concerns.

Councillor Dean Fitzpatrick questioned the density of the proposed development, and Sue Glithero clarified that the density of 100 dwellings per hectare was considered high but suitable for the site's accessibility. Councillor Mike Newman, whose ward includes the site, sought clarification on the attenuation tank's capacity, which was explained as approximately 675,000 litres. He also raised questions about the robustness of the 1,000-year incident rainfall figures in light of changing climate patterns. Councillor Catherine Stuart provided a helpful explanation, stating that a one-in-a-thousand-year event has a 0.1% probability of occurring in any given year, meaning multiple such events could occur within a short period.

Councillor Graham Greenhalgh raised concerns about the potential impact on existing car parking provision for nearby residential buildings, but officers confirmed that the application had considered the site in its entirety and that the proposed six apartments would have six dedicated parking spaces.

The committee was assured that the approval was for a full planning application for six apartments of a specific height and design, and any future amendments would require a new application.

Planning Appeals, Enforcement Appeals and Enforcement Notices

The committee received a report summarising recent appeal decisions, current planning appeals, and enforcement actions. A question was raised regarding several enforcement appeals where the compliance date had passed without an update on whether compliance had been achieved. The representative for the Assistant Director for Governance acknowledged this point and stated it would be taken back to the relevant team for further investigation.

Concerns were also voiced about the length of compliance dates for some enforcement notices. It was explained that these dates are determined by various factors on a case-by-case basis, and some tasks, such as hedge cutting, may need to be carried out in stages, influencing the final compliance date. Sue Glithero added that for high hedges, a phased reduction is often required, which can extend the compliance period.

The committee noted the report.

The meeting concluded at 6:32 pm. The next meeting was scheduled for Thursday, 6 November 2025.