Anwyl, Great Places lodge plans for 152 Woodley homes
An application for a 100% affordable scheme on 23 acres off Gravel Bank Road has been submitted to Stockport Council.
Anwyl Partner Projects and Great Places Housing Group want to build 152 homes on the Woodley site, which is split in two either side of the Peak Forest Canal and east of Stockport Sports Village.
The homes would be constructed exclusively on the site off Gravel Bank Road. The plot over the canal would be retained as a habitat creation area, according to the plans.
The scheme is the latest in a long line of Green Belt housing schemes piling up in Stockport and the site is draft allocated for housing within the emerging Stockport Local Plan.
Anwyl and Great Places say the development would help to address a shortage of homes in the borough.
Mathew Anwyl, chief operating officer at Anwyl Homes, said: “The need for affordable housing continues to grow across Greater Manchester and this application represents an opportunity to deliver 152 much-needed homes for local people in Woodley.
“Partner Projects was created to focus exclusively on affordable housing delivery and this scheme demonstrates the strength of that approach. By promoting sites specifically for affordable housing and working closely with registered provider partners, we can help bring forward high-quality, sustainable developments that directly respond to local housing need.”
Subject to approval, the first homes could be handed over in late 2027.
Nick Gornall, director of growth at Great Places, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Anwyl Partner Projects for the first time on this proposed development in Woodley.
“This is an important milestone for the scheme following months of careful design work and engagement with local people, including taking on board feedback from the pre-planning consultation.”
Gornell added: “Subject to planning approval, these 152 affordable homes would help meet the growing demand for affordable housing in Stockport. We’re already delivering more than 350 affordable homes across the borough through a range of tenures and, if approved, this development would allow us to build on that work and provide more local people with a place they can be proud to call home.”
Asteer Planning, APD, Focus Transport Planning, and TPM Landscape are advising the applicants on the plans.
Where are the new schools Doctors surgeries and hospitals going to be built to cope with the surge of residents? This is extremely important.
By Anonymous
It would be great if the majority, if not all of these homes, could be delivered in small apartment blocks to preserve as much of the natural setting as possible and to demonstrate how effective gentle density and nature can work together. Sadly, I strongly doubt that will be the case.
By Anonymous
Stockport council proposed this site in the GMSF when they were part of it and more recently in their local plan. Affordable homes is also a really good thing. The problem with this is that it’s only half the site and doesn’t include the Unity Mill bit to the north. Pretty sure it won’t be possible to deliver the regeneration of Unity Mill without cross-subsidy from this part. If I recall correctly it also requires access to come from this part. I hope this doesn’t result in Unity Mill just rotting away (more than it already has) and a viable redevelopment never being possible.
By Anonymous
I must have missed the news briefing that declared fields a danger to public health..
By Anonymous
More affordable housing is needed – huge shortage. Underused land in a sustainable location with Train Station very close. Right location for houses. Gets my vote.
By Regeneration
@Anonymous, July 23, 2026 at 9:08 am – fields are not generally a danger to public health but the severe housing shortage, especially the shortage of affordable homes, is undeniably a significant factor in poor public health outcomes.
By Anonymous
This project should be considered together with the other substantial house building proposals just across the border in Gee Cross, Tameside. What are the proposals to alleviate the significant traffic congestion problems we already have along Dowson Road/Hyde Road, Woodley? Where are the medical, educational etc services coming from to support these developments in total? We do have a train station, but this is limited to trains to Manchester only – not Stockport.
Taking these proposals plus the Tameside proposals and other draft plans for this area will result in total urbanisation of the area – which is totally unacceptable
By John Davies