The Greater Manchester village at the centre of a national problem

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Woodford sits on the edge of Greater Manchester. The village is a quiet retreat from the hustle of city living. Five miles from Stockport town centre, it is a favourite among families who want to be close to the countryside, and in reach of urban centres.

Yet, despite the idyllic setting, nestled between the green fields of rural Stockport and Cheshire, Woodford has found itself at the centre of a national problem.

The land is classified as green belt, but over the last few years hundreds of new houses have been built there, after Stockport council granted planning permission in 2014 for more than 900 homes, which also brought a new pub and primary school in a development called the Woodford Garden Village. READ MORE: Nearly three in 10 teachers bring in food for hungry pupils, poll suggests Developer Harrow Estates, part of Redrow plc, is planning to expand the site with another 500 homes, in an estate where some of the biggest houses cost north of £1 million.

But locals say the village is lacking basic transport infrastructure and shops. Joan Cox, 80, moved to the village in 2011 with her husband, and objected to the Woodford Garden Village development when it was first lodged.