Stockport Council is set to challenge the Planning Inspectorate, who have approved a 540 home, 84-acre expansion of Woodford Garden Village, by developer Harrow Estates. The initial bid was submitted in December 2024 and had failed to receive approval from the Council. The Labour government’s Planning Inspectorate waved through the plan last month, with SMBC receiving legal advice in the meantime to explore its options.
The Liberal Democrat Cabinet Member for Housing and Environment, Cllr Jake Austin, has now approved the council contacting the Labour Government, in a formal bid to get the decision reversed. He cited numerous issues with the developer’s plan, including lack of open-space provisions, infrastructure, and other amenities.
Cllr Austin said
“After working closely through the detail with our planning team, it’s right the council has moved ahead with this challenge. Our green belt is precious, and it should not be subject to the whims of developers.
If the Labour government is going to force its developers charter across our green belt, it is imperative that we are able to get the right infrastructure in place – including the educational and open-space provisions.
I am grateful to Councillors Dallas Jones, Jeremy Meal and Cheadle MP, Tom Morrison, who have worked with us continually to ensure residents voices are heard, pushing the council to protect our green spaces and fight against unfair developments across Bramhall and Woodford.
Leaving this decision unchallenged would’ve had a devastating impact on the precedent of future developments across Stockport. This decision is about more than just one development, it is about fighting back against this Government and delivering the infrastructure we need across all of the borough where they are forcing development to happen.”
