Council to get tough on unused buildings
THE owner of a former church could be forced to sell it as Stockport Council bids to get tough on stalling developments and solve the borough’s housing shortage.
Liam Sloane was given planning permission to convert St Augustine’s, in Cheadle Heath, into nine flats in 2012 and it was renewed last year.
But the church, built in the 1800s, stands untouched falling into increased disrepair and becoming a magnet for vandals and graffiti.
It is one of a number of sites in Stockport suffering a similar fate and the council is considering using compulsory purchase orders to take control of them.
Councillor Philip Harding, speaking at a central area committee, said: “This is on the agenda because of the state of the premises.
“It is causing a nuisance to residents it is considerably vandalised, the police have been called. It is boarded up.”
After the meeting he added: “They have done nothing with the building except allow it to decay.
“It’s contributing nothing to Stockport. Fires are started there, it is only a matter of time before it goes up.”
The meeting heard other sites of concern were a former petrol station on Kent Road, Cheadle Heath, the former Bow Garrett pub, on Brinksway, Cheadle Heath, and Springmount Mill, on Northgate Road, Edgeley.
A shortage of housing - particularly for families - means the matter is more urgent.
Coun Richard Coaton said: “It seems slightly immoral that people can have this land with planning permission and not provide the houses that are needed.
“The powers in the council need to have a look at this, there needs to be pressure placed on the owners.”
Coun Sheila Bailey added: “All of them have been causing problems for years. Neighbours are fed up to the back teeth of them.”
St Augustine’s, on St Augustine’s Road, shut around 10 years ago after church bosses decided it was unviable.
Problems with the electrics, that were deemed too expensive to fix, meant insurance companies would not issue a policy for the Church of England building.
Around £100,000 was needed to bring it up to scratch.
The Stockport Express tried to contact Mr Sloane, who lives in Oxford, via his agent. However the agent was unavailable.