Stockport County's major stadium expansion has been approved, ushering in the start of a new era for the club.

The council's planning committee granted plans to add an extra 7,400 seats to Edgeley Park, bringing the total capacity to 18,000 in a near £50m investment.

It followed a battle with campaigners from the Edgeley Wildlife Group, who tried to get the club to change part of the project to build a car park behind the south stand on an area of natural green land.

But during a crunch meeting at the town hall on August 14, councillors supported the expansion of the stadium, which will also bring a new east and south stand as part of the work.

Cllr Steve Gribbon, planning chairman, said: "If you put something in which is going to be a structure of meaning then people are going to want to be part of it and I think this is going to be a good thing for the town centre."

Edgeley councillor Asa Caton backed the plans and said it would bring more money into the area.

The moment plans were approved at Stockport Council's planning committee (Image - Declan Carey LDRS)

He added: "As a councillor I have to strike a balance between environmental protection and development that brings clear socio-economic benefits."

"I have listened to the objections from the Edgeley Wildlife Reserve group but to me the balance is in favour of development because of the benefits it's going to bring to Edgeley and across Stockport."

The League One club has been climbing the football pyramid in recent years, and has ambitions to reach the Championship.

Expanding County's historic ground is seen as a crucial step to its future success, allowing bigger gates and a boost in income, as well as wider economic benefits for the town.

A birds-eye plan for the new stadium (Image - Stockport County)

Work to redevelop the stadium is expected to take place in phases, and could begin at the end of the current campaign.

While a bigger ground is expected to bring more people to Edgeley and an increase in cars, any impact on local roads will be dampened with a new matchday access strategy, travel plan, and expanding the matchday parking zone.

County have got off to a flying start in League One this season with two wins in two as the club aims to secure promotion.

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