Gatley Golf Club has taken up 18 hectares of grassland and woods off Styal Road since 1912 – forming part of its community for more than 100 years.

Surrounded by local housing, the Stockport club was facing an uncertain future after Hollins Strategic Land lodged plans to build 278 homes on the land, ruling that the site was no longer “economically viable.”

After campaigners opposed the plans, the application was knocked back during at a tense meeting of Stockport council’s planning committee in February – in a ruling decided by just two votes.

At the time, the plan sparked a petition to “save” the golf club from development.

But the refusal has now been appealed to the government’s Planning Inspector (PI), which has the power to overturn the decision.

A CGI of how the new homes could look if building went ahead (Image - Hollins Strategic Land)

The move has caused alarm in the corridors of Stockport town hall, where councillors fear the appeal could cost more than £100,000 and mark the start of a lengthy legal battle.

A council spokesperson said that “the formal appeal process for Gatley Golf Club has officially started, which includes a timeline for how the appeal will proceed.”

“The council is now notifying all the relevant parties, as required during this appeal process,” they added.

The process echoes another recent planning appeal at Mirrlees Fields, where the council’s decision to reject an application to build hundreds of homes on the land was overturned.

At the heart of the issue was the borough’s ability to prove it can build enough homes to meet demand – but the PI said there was a “significant shortfall” in the council’s plans.

Stockport council, which has adopted a “brownfield first” approach to building new homes, is now facing growing pressure from opposition councillors who say the town hall’s planning system is in “disarray.”

A plan for the new development (Image - Hollins Strategic Land)

Cllr David Meller, leader of Stockport Labour, said: “This is the third such appeal in recent years, and it will likely cost Stockport a six-figure sum at the very least – money that comes directly from the pockets of our council tax payers.

“The absence of a robust local plan is causing these issues, leaving our planning system in disarray. Planning within Stockport has been reduced to a battle that puts political self-interest ahead of building the homes we are crying out for.”

Cllr Claire Vibert, Stockport Labour’s housing lead, added: “As Stockport continues to grapple with an insufficient housing pipeline, the ongoing appeals and legal battles are raising serious questions about the administration’s ability to effectively manage planning and deliver much-needed homes for its residents.”

Stockport Lib Dems were contacted for comment. As the appeal of the planning application has now started, the council is limited in what it can say before a decision is reached.

The Gatley Golf Club appeal is due to begin on November 26 this year.

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