Stockport County plan to create new 140-space matchday car park next to Edgeley Park

Stockport County plans to create a new 140-space matchday car park next to its Edgeley Park home. The club - which returns to the Football League next season after an 11-year absence - has submitted proposals to demolish the old Edgeley and Shaw Heath Labour club to make way for the new facility.

Situated behind the Railway End, the one-acre plot is also home to a disused bowling green and pavilions. The Hatters want to knock down the ‘dilapidated’ buildings to widen access to site and use it as a temporary surface-level car park for the next three years.

County say there is an ‘urgent need’ to increase car parking capacity at the ground, particularly due to an expected greater media presence at the site on match days following their promotion. The car park will be for the use of players, officials and television crews, as well as club employees and those using the club's hospitality space.

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It will not be open to members of the general public. The club says it represents ‘the first step in the club’s five-year growth strategy’ including an initial stage of wider stadium improvement works.

County’s non-executive chairman Ken Knott said in a statement: “Part of our five-year growth strategy, the plans have been submitted to help to ease pressures felt by the club and the local community on match days. It’s an incredibly exciting time at the club as we head towards our first League Two match at the end of July, and this is one of the necessary improvements to ease that transition into the English Football League.”

A document submitted in support of the application says the proposals would see ‘significant investment in an important