Residents in Stockport are opposing a controversial plan to build nearly 300 new homes on a historic golf club which is set to be decided this week.

Hollins Strategic Land (HSL) is seeking permission to build 278 new homes on Gatley Golf Club, a privately owned nine-hole course founded in 1912 which describes itself as being against "the wonderful backdrop of the incredible Cheshire countryside".

The planning application is set to be decided by councillors at Stockport's Planning and Highways Regulation Committee tomorrow night, despite more than 1,400 objections to the plan from residents in the first public consulation.

Objectors raised issues ranging from concerns about an increase in traffic, losing green spaces in Stockport, and adding further strain to local infrastructure.

Sport England raised an objection to the proposal over the loss of playing fields. In addition, Sport England and England Golf have raised concerns over the developer's claim that the course is surplus to requirements.

The Gatley golf course was founded in 1912 (Image via planning document)

The developer claimed the golf course is not economically viable and that the new homes would benefit the community, with 50 percent being designated as "affordable".

Cheadle West and Gatley Councillor Tom Morrison, the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Cheadle, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that he believes the plan is "unworkable" and "ill-thought out".

He said: "The developer has not engaged with the local community at all on this, and it's wise to make sure these plans are stopped. The impact will be really bad for the area; we just don't have the infrastructure to deal with an extra 270 new houses."

The proposal from HSL states that the existing Heald Green Theatre Company and the clubhouse will be retained for use as a community hub. It noted the need for more homes in Stockport which is currently facing a shortage of housing.

Stockport Homes, the company which manages the council's housing stock, has around 6,000 people registered on its housing application service. Each house listed receives around 300 applications.

The new development would straddle the railway line (Image via planning document)

However, residents in Gatley claim the borough cannot afford to lose green space. Sharon Lindsay, 62, a resident near the golf course, said: "We know there's a need for new houses but we're very worried about the access and the traffic both during the construction and afterwards.

"There are many tight corners and roads to get into the golf course. We've written letters about this, from our point of view this is our biggest concern. People are also worried about losing green space."

Jeremy Young, another nearby resident, said: "If we do nothing to address this imbalance and stop this type of development being waved through with little or no consultation, we are going to lose a lot of green field sites to what is undesirable housing."

The developer said it has consulted with residents throughout the planning process, and that if approved the designs would provide a significant economic benefit to the area.

What the new homes could look like (Image - Hollins Strategic Developments)

It plans to spend more than £2m towards education, and around £1m to off-site highways improvements, among other investments as part of the application.

A spokesperson from HSL said: "It is these benefits that are considered as part of the planning balance that have contributed to the scheme being recommended for approval as well as the need for new affordable and private housing in Stockport, which is beyond doubt.

"In addition, a new urban park will be provided and there will be significant financial contributions towards education, recreation and offsite road, cycleway and footpath connections.

"There are no outstanding technical objections, and the redevelopment of this privately-owned land will help to reduce the inevitable pressure for development on green belt and less suitable sites elsewhere in Stockport."

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