recognising the important role education providers play as an anchor in those communities.

  1. The NPPF sets out that local planning authorities should take a proactive, positive and collaborative approach in providing sufficient choice of school places to meet the needs of existing and new communities. This should include ensuring that development will widen choice in education. Authorities are expected to give great weight to the need to create, expand or alter schools. Our local policy builds upon the national policy to ensure that there is sufficient high-quality education provision available for every child and young person in the borough, from early years provision through to meeting post-16 educational needs. Doing this is considered an integral part of delivering sustainable development, and effective pupil place planning is a fundamental element of the local authority's role as strategic commissioner of good school places.
  2. The majority of Stockport's schools were built in the 50s, 60s and 70s, and although most have been refurbished during their lifetime, many of the schools are now requiring significant investment. Where feasible, the council will continue to focus its efforts on expanding or improving existing facilities that are in the urban area in accessible locations, as this makes the best use of land. The council will work closely with the Department for Education, the Education and Skills Funding Agency, the Regional Schools Commissioner and potential sponsors to deliver school places where they are needed.
  3. Stockport has experienced a significant rise in the demand for school places in recent years, especially in primary schools. This pressure has been successfully managed through the expansion of existing schools. As the borough's population grows, demand for school places is projected to increase, placing further pressure on facilities, particularly secondary and special education needs and disability (SEND). Where housing development results in increased demand, investment should be made into education provision to ensure that there are sufficient places to serve the borough's pupils.
  4. Applicants for residential development proposals will be expected to work in a positive and constructive way with Stockport Council, and other neighbouring local authorities where relevant, to identify the education needs arising from development and to ensure that appropriate provision is made towards new, improved and expanded facilities. Government guidance9 on the use of planning obligations states that: “Government funding and delivery programmes do not replace the requirement for developer contributions in principle. Plan makers and local authorities for education should therefore agree the most appropriate developer funding mechanisms for education, assessing the extent to which developments should be required to mitigate their direct impacts.”
  5. We will seek developer contributions from developments that yield pupils where there is insufficient capacity in local schools. Applications with less than 10 residential units will typically be exempt from providing developer contributions

9 See Paragraph: 007 Reference ID: 23b-007-20190315 www.gov.uk/guidance/planning-obligations