An appeal has been lodged with the Planning Inspector.
How Woodford Garden Village could look if the expansion moves ahead (Image: Harrow Estates / Royal Pilgrim)
A councillor in Stockport said there is ‘frustration and anger’ because a developer did not turn up to a public meeting to face questions over its plans to build 540 homes on the green belt.
A major expansion of Woodford Garden Village was submitted to the council by Redrow Homes in December.
The scheme includes a community hub in its final phase of work, with space for an events hall, café, co-working area, and local shops.
Half of the proposed homes would be designated as affordable housing, with social rent and affordable ownership tenures.
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But during a meeting of the Bramhall and hulme>Cheadle Hulme south area committee on October 23, councillors and residents raised several concerns about the proposals.
They criticised the developer for not sending a representative to answer questions at the public gathering.
Councillors discussed the situation during a public meeting on October 23 (Image: Declan Carey)
Coun Alex Wynne, chairing the area committee, said he was ‘incredibly disappointed’ at the situation.
Redrow has lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspector over the application because it has not yet been decided by the council, and they have called for a public inquiry.
Coun Wynne added: “I am particularly disappointed that they have gone to the Planning Inspector and they are not here tonight to speak to their application.
“The importance of local people in planning applications cannot be overstated, the fact that they are unwilling to speak to that is telling.”
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The appeal means the decision over whether or not to approve the plans will be taken away from councillors in Stockport.
Concerns were also raised at the meeting about the impact on the green belt, as well as a lack of infrastructure or provision for education and active travel.
A proposed loop road is part of the scheme and would connect to the existing garden village.
The plans also state that a ‘significant amount of open space’ would be made around the development area, and the existing parking facility for Avro Golf Club would be extended.
A Woodford Garden Village resident named Peter spoke at the meeting on October 23, saying local people are struggling with major traffic problems.
He added: “Already trying to get in and out of Woodford Garden Village in the morning is horrendous.”
Coun Peter Crossen said Redrow were ‘hiding away’ by not attending the meeting and facing questions from the public.
He added: “More and more families are going to have to drive to get their children to school every morning and afternoon, and that’s going to impact more and more, especially when you add on to it the impact of the Handforth Garden Village development and the impact that’s going to have.
“It’s already congested roads, trying to get on to the A555 at rush hour is chaos.”
The proposed houses in the scheme would come with three, four and five bedroom options, as well as 15 self-build and custom housebuilding plots, up to 50 apartments, and 75 older persons extra care apartments.
Redrow Homes lodged its appeal to the Planning Inspector in September, after the council gave an initial determination deadline of May 5, 2025 when the application was first submitted.
Council officers said there should be a recommendation that the plans be refused for several reasons, including ‘inappropriate development’ on the green belt, and a lack of provision for education, open space, and active travel.
An officer’s comment in the planning report highlighted that the scheme would have a ‘severe and significant impact’ on roads, and ‘does not deliver the improvements that officers consider are necessary to local infrastructure’.
Concerns were raised about the demand for school places, where there is ‘high demand’ at the local primary.
While the developer has committed to making a payment towards increasing school capacity in the area, a council officer said: “There’s a danger that the school places needed as part of this development might never be delivered.”
The scheme has been unpopular with some neighbours, who have submitted 86 letters objecting to the plans.
