Hollins hopeful of Gatley Golf Club approval
Stockport Council’s planning officers have recommended the developer’s 278-home proposal gets the green light next week.
Hollins Strategic Land wants to redevelop the 44-acre Gatley Golf Club off Styal Road and first lodged plans for the scheme in 2021.
The developer is hoping Stockport Council’s planning committee agrees with the authority’s planning department that, on balance, the delivery of 278 homes – would outweigh the harm caused by the loss of 16.5 acres.
Around half of the homes would be available on affordable tenures.
Paul O’Shea, director at Hollins Strategic Land, said: “The ambition from the very beginning was to create a community-led development that delivers a vibrant, walkable neighbourhood for its future residents.”
The scheme has not been universally popular and various tweaks have been made as a result of conversations with locals.
“The feedback we have received from local people has been listened to and informed a number of improvements to the application, which we are delighted has been recommended for approval,” O’Shea added.
“These proposals will address the local housing need whilst delivering a wide variety of community benefits and we are excited to move into the next chapter of the story”.
As well as a mix of one- to four-bedroom homes, the scheme features allotments, tennis courts, and a community hub in the clubhouse building.
Overall, more than 26 acres of the former golf club will be transformed into publicly accessible space.
Subject to planning approval, Hollins will sign a Section 106 Agreement to provide a £2m contribution towards education provision in the local area.
Broadway Malyan is the masterplan architect for the 44-acre site, which currently houses a privately owned nine-hole golf club. BM heads a professional team that includes Nexus Planning, Croft, Tyler Grange, UCML, Professional Consult, and Brownfield Solutions.
Due to Stockport pulling out of the GMSF and the lack of a local plan the planning committee will have difficulty refusing this application. If the councillors do refuse the application it will get turned over by the planning inspector with the authority paying the cost of the appeal. Pulling out of the GMSF was such a daft decision.
By Anonymous
Why should the GMSF decide what’s best for Stockport?
By DH
If this is a community led project why are you not listening to any of the community ! This will be catastrophic for Gatley and Heald green 😡
By Anonymous
This is not brownfield it is a golf club !!!!
By Anonymous
My understanding is that if there had been ‘various tweeks from conversations with locals’, that would mean it would not go ahead, as there is considerable concern locally about the loss of the green space and golfing facility.
By Anonymous
There is literally no benefit in speaking to the local community as they will always say no. This site needs to be delivered as housing, we have too many golf clubs in South Manchester.
By Goforit
If they are giving 26 acres as open space, lets get it built!!!!
By Yes Please
With the Mirrlees Fields decision there is absolutely no justification to refuse this scheme. Refusing it will cost the council even more money, all while it continues to plead poverty. Really pitiful leadership at the moment.
By Anonymous
DH, GMSF doesn’t decide what’s best for Stockport, they pulled out of the framework now making it more difficult to refuse development proposal such as this one on the golf course.
By Anonymous
We already have traffic problems in the area. Just imagine another 500 cars plus all the movements of service lorries. Grid lock pollution accidents. It is not simply lets have more houses is it?
By Peter Shirley
Cracking scheme. Get it approved and built! Delivering 50% affordable housing plus extensive public open space and new recreational facilities instead of a private golf club is only positive.
By Anonymous
@Peter Shirley (February 05, 2024 at 8:24 pm)
“It is not simply lets have more houses is it?”
Read the officer’s report on the application and you’ll see that it isn’t.
https://democracy.stockport.gov.uk/documents/s228861/Gatley%20Golf%20Cttee%20Rept%20FINAL%20UPDATE%2031%2001%2024.pdf
By Gethin Forslake