Bredbury Gateway development rejected at appeal

Developers, Quorum, have had the plans for Bredbury Gateway, a significant industrial estate scheme, rejected at appeal after Stockport Council refused planning for the scheme in March 2021.

Stockport Council rejected the planning application as the scheme would be developed on greenbelt land, with one councillor describing the development as contributing to ‘urban sprawl’ in the borough. The location was also one of a number of greenbelt sites that was earmarked for development under the now-defunct Greater Manchester Spatial Framework, a unified plan for land-use across the city-region’s ten boroughs, which was rejected by Stockport’s councillors over loss of greenbelt sites in the borough.

The 1 million sq ft development would have seen over 75 acres of previously undeveloped land alongside the River Tame in Bredbury lost to development if approved. Developers had argued that the loss of greenbelt was justifiable due to a shortage of light industrial units in the local area, and the economic benefits of the scheme through the 1,600 jobs that could be created so close to some Stockport’s most deprived wards. Plans had already been reduced from 1.2 million sq ft in an earlier proposal after objections from neighbouring Tameside Council, but these concessions, in addition to increased green space within the development, were not deemed enough to secure the support of councillors.

Quorum, however, chose to appeal Stockport Council’s decision and escalate the planning decision to a national level shortly after its first refusal.

Planning inspector David Rose dismissed the appeal, also citing the loss of greenbelt land. He concluded that the potential employment opportunities at the site would not have significant enough impact on local deprivation to justify the loss of green spaces in the borough, and that allowing the scheme to go through would be in conflict with the explicit aims of greenbelt to check overzealous expansion of urban areas. Rose did however acknowledge the shortage of warehouse and light industrial units in Stockport, and called on the council to examine how to rectify this in its upcoming Local Plan.

Commenting to Place North West, Quorum director, Paul Cook said:

“We note the Inspector acknowledges Stockport has no employment land supply and are therefore very surprised by the decision, especially in this cost of living crisis, that over 1,200 jobs, so close to one of the most disadvantaged boroughs [sic] in the country, does not hold more weight.

“We will now consider our options, and note Stockport Council are required to produce a new Local Plan to accommodate, amongst other things, the employment land need accepted by the Inspector.”

Quorum were advised in their appeal by Lichfields.