While optimising density of new development is a priority for the council, it is important that this is balanced with an understanding of a site's context. The Stockport Character and Urban Density Study was undertaken to take a place-led approach to defining density and building height ranges in specific study areas across the borough. The study highlights the importance of optimising land efficiency for residential development, while balancing this with the need to respond sensitively and innovatively to townscape character.

Applications should include an assessment of how the existing context and character of the area has informed the density of the proposed development. This should recognise that in many areas it will be appropriate, with suitable and sensitive design, to go beyond prevailing densities. This should be included within the design and access statement for relevant applications. National Design Guidance is clear that well-designed places do not need to copy their surroundings in every way. New development can introduce elements that reflect how we live today, to include innovation or change such as increased densities and incorporate new sustainable features or systems.

The density of development should also be informed by other factors such as local need and viability.

GMAL stands for Greater Manchester Accessibility Level and is a detailed and accurate measure of the accessibility of a point to both the conventional public transport network (i.e. bus, Metrolink and rail) and Greater Manchester's Local Link (flexible transport service), taking into account walk access time and service availability. The method is essentially a way of measuring the density of the public transport provision at any location within the Greater Manchester. For the purposes of this policy it is used to define the areas that have high public transport accessibility and can therefore support higher densities.

The Department for Transport has also developed a national Connectivity Tool57, which combines transport and land-use data to generate a ‘connectivity score’ for every location in England and Wales, mapped at a resolution of 100-metre by 100-metre grid squares. This score reflects people’s ability to access jobs, shops, education, healthcare and other essential services using walking, cycling and public transport. While this policy currently relies on GMAL scores, these may be superseded in future by the Connectivity Tool or any other relevant and appropriate measure of accessibility.

The following definitions and interpretation apply to this policy: