Will my Garrya Elliptica grow back

Hi all, 

I was just wondering, if I chopped my garrya elliptica down so there was just some 4 foot tall stumps would it grow back or just die? 

The thing is out of control (currently as tall as the guttering) and it has no growth for the first 8 foot of the trunks. 

I don't want to kill it as my mum planted it and she's gone now, but it has also completely stolen all light from my garden. 

I had to chop down my walnut tree a few years ago (council mandate) and that's grown 10 foot tall shoots now. 

I was hoping the same thing would apply to the garrya elliptica. 

Thanks for any response

Dan