More than 1,000 new homes could be built around a Stockport village as developers are eyeing up plots of land in the borough for building.

Woodford sits on the edge of Stockport by the border with Cheshire and the A555, and is home to the Woodford Garden Village development by Harrow Estates.

New plans are coming forward which could lead to massive growth of the leafy neighbourhood.

An application to build 554 homes has been submitted to Stockport council by Russell LDP, whose partner company is Russell Homes.

Planning documents say the development would be a 'logical extension' to Woodford, with nearly 200 homes at 'affordable' prices and care apartments included in the scheme.

It would be based off Chester Road on Greater Manchester's green belt.

Plans for the land include a site to be used as a shop or for food and drinks, a medical centre, a nature park, and a day nursery.

A CGI impression of what the houses off Chester Road could look like (Image - Russell LDP)

David Wilson Homes has also launched a consultation for 450 new homes at Upper Swineseye Farm, east of Woodford Garden Village.

Half of these would be at 'affordable' prices according to the consultation website, and the scheme would include green spaces, landscaping and walking routes, creating a 'natural extension' to Woodford with access from Roy Chadwick Way (A523).

A planning application is expected to follow the public consultation.

The amount of development taking place in the area has sparked concerns from a local councillor.

Peter Crossen is a Conservative representing the Bramhall South and Woodford ward.

He said residents are 'furious' about the situation with development in the neighbourhoods.

"Our precious green spaces are being chipped away at furiously by developers while our communities are being changed forever with little or no infrastructure being delivered to support these huge housing schemes," he added.

A bird's eye view showing the extent of the new Woodford garden neighbourhood (Image - Russell LDP)

He also took aim at the Lib Dems running Stockport council over their work putting together a local plan – a document outlining future development in the borough.

"The one legal tool available, the local plan, still hasn't been produced," he said.

"Without it, the council is losing control of mass development across our area."

Stockport council was recently told by the government to get a move on with its local plan, in a letter from Labour housing minister Matthew Pennycook MP which accused the council of 'repeated failure' to make progress.

The council was planning to move ahead to a consultation on its local plan last year, but delayed this after the Labour government introduced increased housebuilding targets in Stockport of 1,906 a year – nearly double the previous requirement.

Cllr Crossen welcomed the government's intervention, saying: "This is great news for residents as the longer we are without a local plan, the more our green belt is at risk."

Stockport town hall (Image - Nub News)

Cllr leader Mark Roberts hit back at the housing minister, saying intervention into Stockport's local plan 'should ring alarm bells for all those who value the green belt.'

In response to Cllr Crossen, the council leader said: "Cllr Crossen and his local Conservatives have some brass neck, one week happily endorsing the Labour governments' directive to concrete over the green belt and the next feigning concern and outrage.

"The only party in Stockport that is standing up to the Labour government and fighting to protect the cherished green belt are the Liberal Democrats.

"Despite government chaos and delay, we have worked to build the much needed right homes in the right places with infrastructure to support them.

"A draft local plan was published ready for regulation 18 consultation on July 19, 2024, a local plan that delivered a true 'brownfield first' regeneration of our borough, but this was blocked by Labour's changes to the planning rules.

"Should he [Cllr Crossen] want to direct his fury at those concreting over our green belt, he can join us in condemning the Labour government for doubling the number of homes that must be built in Stockport."

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