28. The communities around Cheadle and Gatley are primarily residential and benefit from good access to retail, services and leisure opportunities. People living in the area have relatively easy access to outdoor recreational opportunities and have above average life expectancy. As a largely built-up area there are limited new development options but new homes provided in recent years have made good reuse of previously developed land. Whilst communities are well connected to highway networks there are considerable issues of traffic congestion which results in poor air quality in some places. Plans for a new rail station at Cheadle and cycling and walking network improvements as part of the Mayoral Challenge Fund Bee Network will both help to address this issue.
29. Heald Green is a well-established residential community in the south-west of the borough which is well served by retail, services and leisure opportunities. The area's residents can access a range of outdoor recreational opportunities and, like many of the more affluent parts of the borough, have above average life expectancy. Like much of Stockport there are only limited opportunities for new development on previously developed land, but new homes are planned for land around the Seashell Trust's campus to the east of the area. That development will help transform the campus into a modern, fit for purpose facility. This will provide a creative, happy and secure environment for children and young people with complex needs and additional communication challenges. Communities in Heald Green benefit from good access to the main road network and a rail station for travel into Manchester city centre and elsewhere. The area's main roads, however, suffer from traffic congestion and poor air quality in places.
30. More detailed data and information on our places and neighbourhoods is set out in the Integrated Appraisal and wider evidence base which have informed preparation of the Local Plan.