A new housing estate could be built on the green belt in Stockport close to the Airport Relief Road.

Plans have been submitted to the council to build 64 'affordable' homes on the fields off Bolshaw Road in Heald Green.

It is close to the border with Cheshire with Handforth sitting on the other side of the A555.

Developer Breck Homes said in its planning application that the land is 'well located for access to local shops, employment, community facilities and public services, many accessible from the site on foot.'

A report set out the vision: 'The site will provide 100 per cent affordable housing, infrastructure needs will be met, and accessible public open space will be provided.

'The streets have been designed to be a safe, pleasant environment for residents. This is within the context of Heald Green being a sustainable location in which residents can live, work and play.'

The developer said people with a local connection but without the 'financial means' to live in the area would be given 'priority' for housing allocation.

If the scheme is approved, half the homes would be at social rent prices, with the other half for shared ownership.

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The developer explained in its application that while the site is part of the green belt, it 'fulfils the definition of 'grey belt' in accordance with national planning policy.'

A 'grey belt' designation can mean land being released from its protected status or allocated for housing development.

This would be weighed up by Stockport council when reviewing the plans.

The planning application continued: 'The combination of dwelling types and sizes, with apartments of one or two bedrooms and homes of two, three, and four bedrooms, will meet the needs of a wide range of users.'

Proposals could see new homes built on the land come with 'spacious private gardens' and communal areas for the apartments.

Planning documents state that the area is serviced by 'regular bus services stopping 100m from the site' which will 'enable travel to locations such as Stockport, Macclesfield and Manchester Airport all within 30 minutes.'

Reports claimed that Heald Green train station is a '15-minute walk from the site along Cross Road', but Google Maps suggested the trek could take closer to half an hour from the application area.

Stockport is facing a shortage of affordable housing like in other areas of Greater Manchester.

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More than 9,000 people are registered on Homechoice, a platform used by social housing provider Stockport Homes for bidding on properties.

The Lib Dem-led council has plans to build a total of 8,000 homes in Stockport town centre with a 'brownfield first' approach to development.

Stockport Council has set a target date of May 25 for the plans to be decided.

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