‘Micro flats’ set to be smallest homes in county

TAKE a look at these tiny flats - could they be the smallest ever built in Greater Manchester?

Formerly a 1960s office block, this six-storey building, in Cheadle Hulme, is set to be transformed into some of the tiniest homes around.

When complete, ‘Fabrick’ will have 184 swanky ‘micro apartments’, spread across six floors.

Homes in the development will range in size from just 30 sqm for a one-bedroom apartment to 57 sqm for a two-bedroom apartment.

This means that flats in the development will be HALF the size of the average apartment.

So it could be a bit of a tight squeeze.

However, developers say that by cutting out hallways and some walls they have maximised all available space.

They say they have made use of innovative ‘flexible furniture’, including desks which turn into dining tables.

This is Inside Homes’ first micro development in Greater Manchester.

Chief executive Martin Skinner said: “Initial sales tend to be to investors seeking capital growth by getting in early.

“When Help to Buy kicks in around six to nine months prior to completion, this shifts to firsttime buyers - typically single professionals in their early thirties or young couples in their twenties combining salaries to purchase together. We also get a lot of sib- lings who team up to purchase the two-beds.”

Plans for the development include a number of rooftop terraces, open to all residents, as well as a Wi-Fi ready club lounge, with a big screen TV and pool table.

The 81,956 sq ft building was last occupied in early 2011 by an engineering consultancy before it was later earmarked for redevelopment by Stockport council.

The interior of the property has been designed by Liverpool-based firm Falconer Chester Hall Architects.

If you want to get you hands on a micro home, prices start at £120,000 for a ground floor studio apartment and £132,500 for a one-bedroom apartment.

The development will have studios as well as one and two-bedroom apartments.

Construction work is set to begin in the next few weeks and be complete by next year. ●●Top, ‘Fabrick’ and, right and below, views inside one of the ‘micro apartments’