Business owners who have been told to relocate to make way for a housing development say they fear for their futures.
Wain Estates recently received approval from Stockport Council for its proposal to construct up to 60 homes at Dairyground Farm on Lytham Drive, Bramhall. Half of the housing is earmarked as affordable.
The land is understood to be under the ownership of the family behind Pennington's Stables who, according to planning documents, are considering retirement and departure from the premises.
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The report said the facility is 'at the end of its economic life, with extensive investment required to replace the current dilapidated buildings'.
Council members approved the transformation of the site into a new housing estate, subject to a section 106 agreement on any planning obligations.
However, this development has left several business proprietors, who lease sections of the land, in a state of uncertainty, having been instructed to vacate by July.
Among them is Dave Dudson, aged 62, owner of Auto Body Repairs of Bramhall. He operates out of a unit on the farm and said: "I've got nowhere else to go, I'm looking but the application was only passed recently.
"It's a big worry for me, I've got to be out by July, I'm too young to retire, but I might have to shut the whole thing down.
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"It's hard to find a new place, a lot of our customers are around here, it's all a bit of a shock at the moment."
Elliot John Priest, owner of Elliot John Carpentry, said: "It's not going to be easy to move, I'm constantly here, we've got big machinery.
"I've got to carry on, but finding somewhere is going to be very hard, it's got to be the right price and size."
Other business proprietors on the site appeared less concerned about the scenario. Concept Timberwork owner Lewis Alexander, 30, said: "I want to stay on here if I'm speaking selfishly, but things have got to change.
"People need to wake up to the reality of it, the rent is very cheap here.
"It will affect businesses, but we just want enough time to get off, we've known it's been going on for years."
John Pennington, 58, a member of the family running Pennington's Stables, was born on the farm. He said: "It creates a living for us, but not a massive amount of money. The businesses have very good rents here, but [moving away] is difficult for us too, all our memories are here."
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His wife Gaynor, 55, said the family 'couldn't make it work' in the long term financially. She said: "We have mixed feelings about leaving, it's going to break our hearts."
Despite the land falling within Stockport's green belt, Wain Estates' land director Ryan James justified the potential for future development, explaining that the area has already undergone significant changes and could serve as a natural extension of Bramhall, facilitating access to local amenities.
He continued: "A variety of uses currently exist on the land, along with buildings of varying quality.
"Our plans will deliver a carefully considered, high-quality residential scheme centred around an existing pond, with enhanced walking routes and improved rights of way, whilst regenerating a brownfield site.
"Importantly, it will also make a significant contribution to the borough's affordable housing supply."
Stockport council officers also determined that the proposed development "would not result in substantial harm to the openness of the green belt."
Wain Estates intends to market the site to property developers who will later submit a more detailed planning application to progress the development.
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