Social housing included in plan for old golf course

Social housing will be included as part of the redevelopment of a former golf club, according to a planning application.

Mosscare St Vincent's Housing (MSV) said it would team up with Bellway to buy 122 of the 244 new homes at the former Gatley Golf Course in Heald Green, Stockport.

MSV is a social landlord working across north-western England with nearly 9,000 homes in Greater Manchester.

While the housing project has not yet been given planning permission by Stockport Council, MSV described it as "great news for Stockport" and a move that would bring the unused site back into use for local people.

"We are still in the grip of a housing emergency, where families are crying out for affordable homes, said MSV chief executive Charlie Norman.

"We have a strong track record of not only providing those homes, but then delivering on our promises and providing the best possible services for long-term investment in the area.

"Overall, the development will see an investment of £49m in the site, which has got to be good news for everyone."

Permission to turn the site into a housing estate was granted by the Planning Inspectorate, a government body that oversees planning appeals, in January 2025 after initially being knocked back by Stockport Council.

Some objected to the plans and campaigned to save the golf club, with more than 1,600 people signing a petition to stop the land from being developed.

A more detailed planning application was submitted in April.

After the Planning Inspectorate granted permission for the land to be developed in 2025, resident Sharon Lindsay said: "It's just heartbreaking to see that it will be built on, the community is feeling very hurt by what has happened.

"Although it's a private club they feel it has many links to the community that go back to the early days of the club, with generations of family connections.

"This is a blueprint for how to sell a sports club and deprive the community of a recreational facility.

"People need to be aware of that."

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