A controversial housing development on a Stockport golf club has taken another step forward in what has been hailed as 'great news' for the town.

Mosscare St Vincent's Housing (MSV) is teaming up with Bellway, one of the UK's largest housebuilders, to buy 122 new homes at the former Gatley Golf Course in Heald Green, Stockport. Overall the development will see 244 homes built across the site with the other 122 being sold by Bellway.

MSV is a social landlord working across the North West with almost 9,000 homes across Greater Manchester.

The plans for 244 new homes do not have full planning permission yet from Stockport Council but Charlie Norman, MSC chief executive, said: "This is great news for Stockport, bringing an unused and undeveloped site into use for local people.

"We are still in the grip of a housing emergency, where families are crying out for affordable homes. MSV has a strong track record of not only providing those homes, but then delivering on our promises and providing the best possible services for long-term investment in the area.

"Overall, the development will see an investment of £49m in the site, which has got to be good news for everyone."

Permission to turn the site into a housing estate was granted by the Planning Inspectorate, a government body that oversees planning appeals, in January 2025 after initially being knocked back by Stockport council's planning committee.

People objected to the plans and campaigned to save the club with more than 1,600 people signing a petition to stop the land from being developed. A more detailed application was submitted in April.

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After the Planning Inspectorate granted permission for the land to be developed in 2025, resident Sharon Lindsay said: "It's just heartbreaking to see that it will be built on, the community is feeling very hurt by what has happened.

"Although it's a private club they feel it has many links to the community that go back to the early days of the club, with generations of family connections. We have a lot of affection and love for the club.

"This is a blueprint for how to sell a sports club and deprive the community of a recreational facility, people need to be aware of that."

At the time, Paul O'Shea, director at Hollins Strategic Land which was the firm behind the initial planning application, said: "The positive decision now presents a real opportunity to create a thriving, balanced neighbourhood incorporating a range of community facilities for local people."

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