Planning approval for Edgeley Park expansion

Stockport Council’s Planning and Highways Committee has granted Stockport County FC’s application to expand its Edgeley Park grounds.

The Hatters submitted plans in June 2024 for a phased expansion of the stadium as the club continues its meteoric rise and targets a return to Championship football. Enhancements to the stadium look to increase capacity for fans on matchdays, and add to ensure the stadium meets English Football League requirements.

Plans to expand the stadium were signed off on Thursday 14th August, where councillors also approved plans for a major 8-acre sustainable neighbourhood of 1,300 new homes just a short distance away from Edgeley Park in Stockport’s Town Centre West regeneration area.

Proposals will see Edgeley Park receive a roughly £50 million investment to increase its capacity from 10,900 to 18,305. Plans also include an increase in car and coach parking on the site, principally for staff, players and disabled visitors.

Public engagement by the club with the local community was largely welcomed by neighbours in Edgeley, citing the boost for the area and potential job creation, as well as highlighting the local pride in club and its value as a community asset.

Concerns for the scheme were limited to an increase in matchday traffic. Additionally, consultation responses sought protection of an area of undeveloped open space that would be lost – one of the few areas of green space accessible in Edgeley – with the Edgeley Wildlife Reserve Group comprising the most vocal campaigners for protecting the area.

Despite opponents, planning officers and councillors supported the club’s proposals for meeting biodiversity net gain requirements around the loss of some green space and deemed that local benefits of Edgeley Park’s expansion outweighed the small area of habitat loss.

Following planning approval, the stadium expansion will be delivered through a phased approach, delivering new East and South stands, and fully renovating the North Stand.