Redrow makes start on Woodford Aerodrome homes

Redrow has started construction on the first phase of 950 homes at the 500-acre former Woodford Aerodrome site near Stockport, nearly two years after planning consent was granted.

Preparatory works are underway and sales of the houses are expected to launch in June with the opening of show homes on the site.

The redevelopment of the 500-acre site, which is being brought forward by a joint venture between Harrow Estates, part of Redrow, and Avro Heritage, will also feature a primary school, employment area, pub, shops, community facilities, and areas of open and recreational space.

A planning application was approved in July 2014 for the first phase of the development, made up of 145 homes and a village green at Chester Road.

Construction at the site is expected to take place over a nine-year period, with the subsequent stages subject to further detailed planning applications.

Known as Woodford Garden Village, the overall scheme totals 950 homes together with shops, a £3.5m primary school, pub and traditional village greens.

As part of the development agreement with Stockport Council, Redrow will be funding more than £9.5m in community benefits through section 106 contributions. These include providing 143 affordable homes on site with an additional contribution of £4m to the council to provide affordable homes elsewhere.

Around £1.3m will be given over to subsidise current operation of two local bus routes to ensure their frequency.

Jason Newton, sales director for Redrow Homes, said: “It is the end of an era for this historic site in many ways, but it is also the beginning of a new chapter in Woodford’s history.

“Woodford was renowned for building the Lancaster bomber, famous for its daring Dambusters Raid in 1943 to target dams in Germany’s industrial heartland and help Britain’s war effort. Woodford Garden Village will be more than just a new development, it will be a whole new community, complete with a new school and significant improvements to the local area.”

Woodford is situated between Handforth, Bramhall and Poynton, across both Stockport and Cheshire.