FAQs

What are you proposing?
We are proposing Woodford Garden Neighbourhood, a new landscape-led housing development on land between Chester Road, Old Hall Lane and Woodford Garden Village.
Our plans include:
A mix of quality new homes (likely between 1-5 bedrooms) to suit different stages of life, including starter and family homes.
Senior living accommodation, including a care home and independent living apartments.
Up to 15 self-build plots.
50% of homes to be affordable, meeting a key local need.
A large Nature Park, allotments, a community orchard, and children’s play areas..
A commitment to protecting and enhancing the natural environment by retaining the majority of mature trees, hedgerows, and ponds.
A new network of footpaths and cycle routes to encourage active travel.
New facilities including retail provision, a new day nursery, and space for health services such as a GP surgery or dentists.
A Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) to manage surface water and improve biodiversity.
Why have you chosen this location?

There is a pressing need for new homes in Stockport. The Council’s annual housing requirement has recently increased by nearly 80%, and while we support development on brownfield land, there are not enough of these sites to meet this demand, and thus Green Belt land will have to come forward for development.
This site was previously identified as a suitable location for new housing in the 2016 draft Greater Manchester Spatial Framework. It represents a sustainable extension to the existing Woodford Garden Village, allowing new homes and infrastructure to be integrated logically, rather than creating an isolated settlement.
What will be the impact on local traffic?

We have conducted a detailed Transport Assessment which has been submitted as part of our Planning Application.
The resulting report has concluded that the additional impact on traffic will be minimal with less than one additional vehicle per minute at peak hours.
Our plans will create a well-connected neighbourhood that encourages sustainable travel such as walking and cycling to reduce reliance on cars.
Is the site in the Green Belt?

Yes, the site is in the Greater Manchester Green Belt.
Recently the Government has made some changes to national planning policy and introduced the concept of redefining some Green Belt land as “grey belt” land.
Russells consider the site to warrant being identified as “grey belt” as per the terms of this national policy (National Planning Policy Framework 2025) and the site’s contextual properties, but it will be for the Council/Planning Inspectorate to make a judgment on this. This will be expanded upon further within the application that we will submit to Stockport Council. We will provide an update via this website to inform when the application has been validated by the Council. No application submission has yet been made to the Council.
Will there be any affordable housing?
How will this benefit the local community?
The Woodford Garden Neighbourhood is set to provide wide-ranging benefits for the local community, including:
New Homes: a mix of high-quality new homes, including 50% affordable housing to meet local needs.
Specific senior living accommodation – care home and independent living apartments, and likely bungalows or mews.
Public Green Space: new, publicly accessible open space, including a Nature Park, play areas, allotments, and a community orchard for the whole community to enjoy.
Economic Boost: The creation of jobs during the construction period and increased local spend from new residents will support the local economy.
Infrastructure Contributions: we are exploring financial contributions or other provision to support and improve local infrastructure, which will be agreed in discussion with the Council.
How will you protect existing habitats and species?

Our plans have been shaped by detailed technical studies to understand the site’s ecology. Key existing features like boundary hedgerows, ponds, and woodland will be retained and enhanced to protect connectivity for wildlife. All retained habitats will be appropriately protected during construction and for the lifetime of the development.
Our proposals will deliver a significant biodiversity net gain, over and above statutory requirements. The new Nature Park will create a mosaic of valuable new habitats designed to support local species of fauna and flora.
How will this impact local services like schools and GPs?

We have carefully assessed how our proposed development will impact local services such as schools, healthcare, and other community facilities, and this information has been included in our Planning Application.
We have also made changes to our proposals following community feedback; incorporating space for a day nursery, and healthcare facilities such as a GP surgery or dentists.
We will work closely with Stockport Council and other stakeholders to understand the requirements and agree the financial contributions needed to support and enhance local infrastructure where deemed appropriate and reasonable, including for education and public transport.
How will this connect to the existing Woodford Garden Village?

Our plans complement and integrate with Woodford and the existing Woodford Garden Village, creating a cohesive neighbourhood with enhanced green spaces and better connections for the whole community.
We are proposing a new network of footpaths and cycleways. These will not only serve the new neighbourhood but will also tie into the existing Public Right of Way, creating improved links to the Woodford Garden Village and the wider Woodford area for both pedestrians and cyclists.
How have the plans changed in response to community feedback?
Community engagement is very important to us and we have made a number of changes in response to your feedback including:
Reducing buildings heights to 2 and 2.5 storeys where backing onto the Redrow development
Amendments to the masterplan layout, such as relocating apartments
Controlling the proposed wildflower meadow to protect wildlife and prevent general public access. A bird hide is proposed here so the public can experience this space and its’ wildlife.
Incorporating space for health, day nursery and retail uses.
What happens next?

We have now submitted our planning application to Stockport Council. Alongside this, we have submitted a Consultation Report which summarises the key themes raised in the public feedback and explains how we have responded to them in our proposals.
You can view the application and supporting documentation, and comment on our plans on the Stockport Council Planning Portal.