A community group fears plans to build homes next to a nature reserve could destroy a Stockport 'gem' forever.

At a Stepping Hill area committee meeting this week, councillors considered plans for 181 new homes to be built off Jacksons Lane in Hazel Grove. It is the latest plan put forward for consideration in the area after 160 homes were approved last month.

The new plans promise to provide 91 homes that will be classed as affordable with 20 for social rent. The development would be entirely within the green belt and close to the Happy Valley Nature Reserve and Lady Brook Site of Biological Importance.

The plans include funds for new open space as well as a £30,000 contribution to support nature within the reserve. There is also a promised £1.3m contribution towards education provision and £243,608 towards creating additional floorspace at possible three different medical centres.

However Deborah Hind, on behalf of the Friends of Happy Valley, said she was worried about the plan's impact on the area and its wildlife which she was a 'massive asset' to the borough. If the plans are approved, she feared increased footfall would degrade the area over time.

She added: "We are about to devastate such an asset, such a gem in Stockport and I sound quite emotional because that's what I am, because I just can't believe that we're allowing another development and people are going to walk down into that valley."

After a question from a councillor, she said: "If we make the nature reserve smaller and smaller and smaller because we've built on all those fields which inadvertently were really part of the nature reserve, then we're just going to remove nature because it won't be able to survive in the area."

Former councillor Paul Bellis said the traffic in the area would be 'horrendous' if the plans went ahead, adding: "This council needs to stand up to this government at last, and argue that houses should not be built on green belt here, and across the borough."

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However councillors pointed out that if the local authority had not signed up to new planning rules due to kick in next month, Stockport councillors would have been stripped of any decision making powers over planning applications by the government. Decisions also may be subject to judicial review which could be costly.

Arguing for the planning application, Clover Long from Litchfields' Planning said the scheme would deliver 91 high quality and affordable homes helping to tackle the waiting lost of thousands of people on Stockport's housing register.

She added: "The proposals will deliver a well-designed, safe and sustainable development. It will make a significant contribution to addressing Stockport's identified market and affordable housing need. The scheme will also deliver a range of economic and environmental benefits."

However councillor Jamie Hurst criticised the pitch from the developer acting as 'some big saviour to Stockport' as misleading when the development only provides 20 properties for social rent. He added: "I feel it's just a false representation about what you're actually providing in terms of affordability."

Ultimately councillors decided to recommend the plans for refusal. A decision will be made on whether to approve or refuse the application will be made at a later date by the council's planning committee.

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