Proposals for the redevelopment or refurbishment of existing tall buildings and/or upward extensions will also be subject to the requirements of this policy as relevant.

Design choices must be underpinned by the context and character of the area and this must be demonstrated within the planning application;

Be of exemplary architectural design, sustainability and residential liveability;

Have regard to Stockport's topography, and not detrimentally impact on important views, landmarks and the skyline;

Reinforce the spatial/place hierarchy of the borough, positively contributing to legibility, wayfinding and successful place-making;

Respond successfully to their context, particularly where there is high townscape or landscape value, conserve and enhance heritage assets, including their setting where this contributes to significance;

Provide active street frontages that interact with and contribute positively to the surroundings at street level;

Avoid or mitigate against any detrimental impact on the local environment including microclimate, wind deflection, reflection, light pollution, privacy, daylight, sunlight, overshadowing (including of public spaces, especially open spaces and watercourses) and aviation safety; and

Be located within sustainable locations that are close to transport links, jobs, shops and services.

A tall building can be characterised by its height relative to nearby structures, often breaking the existing skyline. Taller buildings are defined as those that exceed the height of their immediate surroundings by greater than two stories. The specific threshold for what constitutes a taller building varies across the borough, depending on the prevailing building heights in each area.

This policy aims to ensure that they will not cause unacceptable harm to their surroundings, and instead are properly located, contributing to and enhancing the sense of place. What is considered a tall building will vary according to the prevailing character of the local area, based on a variety of evidence relating to the characterisation of the borough. Historic England are clear in their advice note