Historic former airbase is part of greenbelt battle...
AMONG 30 local ‘save our greenbelt’ groups, demonstrating outside Manchester Town Hall on April Fools Day was a contingent from Woodford, Stockport, birthplace of Avro, the war winning planemakers.
They are determined that GM’s ‘snatch and (greenbelt) grab’ plans to build 2,400 homes on 600 acres of rolling Woodford farmland doesn’t happen.
A further 1,000 homes are already planned for the remnant of the Woodford aerodrome site, where the recently opened Avro Museum has been enjoying unprecedented visitor numbers – up to 16,000 in their first year, even though the volunteerrun museum is only open three days a week.
The Greater Manchester Orbital Framework is trying to snatch greenbelt from other areas in Stockport, including High Lane, Heald Green and Cheadle.
“Save GM Green Belt” said an umbrella of the organisation leading the fight, who want development to be restricted to “brownfield” sites instead of providing a builders’ charter for more expensive homes on previously protected countryside.
In Woodford the tip of the monster swathe intended for redevelopment grazes Old Hall Lane, which leads alongside the former airfield’s perimeter fence.
Woodford Old Hall and Woodford New Hall, both listed buildings built by the famous Davenport family of Bramall Hall, are down here.
Woodford Old Hall is a black and white timber framed farmhouse and was recently on the market with 170 acres of land.
Woodford New Hall, near Avro’s Golf Course, is believed to be the first brick-built house in the borough, dating to 1630 and formed of attractive stone and handmade bricks, probably quarried locally.
This junior branch of the family did well, marrying an heiress of the Wards of Capesthorne, they became the Bromley Davenports – and quit their humbler abode for the lordly environs of a stately home.
If the orbital plan goes ahead, Woodford along with High Lane and other leafy suburbs will see an unprecedented mushrooming of desirable “executive” homes under the guise of providing affordable homes for the young.
On August 6 a flypast will see the last airworthy Lancaster Bomber, built at Woodford by the thousand, roar overhead.
Let us hope it will remind planners that this place is special and deserves a better fate than becoming just another housing estate. »»The story of how Avro Museum’s Vulcan was saved and restored is told in the Spring issue of Stockport Heritage Magazine £2.80 in newsagents, WH Smith, local Co-ops and Waterstones bookshop now. www.stockportheritagemagazine.co.uk.