New flats are planned for industry site
PLANS have been submitted to build 106 new apartments and a new park at one of the “oldest surviving industrial areas” in Stockport town centre.
The proposed new development is based on two sites sitting east of Hopes Carr Road and north of Waterloo Road, which will be made up of a residential complex as well as a new urban park area.
The area was once the site of three mills which were used to recycle waste cotton produced by other spinning companies.
The buildings in the area fell into disarray in the late 20th century.
If approved, the development will consist of 38 one-bedroom and 68 two-bedroom flats, along with 43 car parking spaces and 106 cycle spaces.
Tala Homes, the developer, claimed that the plans will “deliver localised growth in the town centre” and provide “high quality homes” for Stockport.
None of the new homes are expected to be designated as affordable and the regeneration of the land forms part of the Covent Garden/Hopes Carr Urban Village masterplan. The council claims the masterplan will see around £33 million invested in the area, with a total of 200 new homes being built which are “aimed at families”.
The planning statement claims that the development for 106 new apartments, if approved, will help to “remove fly tipping and antisocial behaviour” from the land which is largely unused but is just a ten-minute walk away from Stockport’s train station and soon-to-open new transport interchange.
It describes the area as a “long standing derelict site”, claiming that the development will offer “significant investment and improvements” to the area.
The planning application also states that the development could create up to 159 new jobs directly due to the new apartments and more than 400 new jobs could be created indirectly in shops and services to meet the demands of new residents.
Stockport council has prioritised brownfield land in the town centre for redevelopment, aiming to provide thousands of new homes in areas which have been left either abandoned or derelict.
This policy has linked to schemes such as the new transport interchange, which is set to include around 200 new apartments built around the site, and a 2 acre park above the bus station.
Other developments include creating a new community in Stockport’s Weir Mill, set to deliver more than 250 new homes in one of the town’s most historic mill buildings as part of a £60m transformation.
Stockport is the only borough in Greater Manchester which is not part of the Places for Everyone scheme, the plan to build more homes and create jobs around the region.