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Plans for a new Eco Business Park in off Bird Hall Lane in Cheadle have been unanimously granted planning permission by councillors.
The 115,000 sq ft development on a council-owned site in Cheadle will deliver six light industrial units, from 10,000 to 40,000 sq ft. It is designed to target BREEAM Outstanding, a new benchmark for a scheme of this type, and align with Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standards.
The planning application was brought forward by Network Space Developments (NSD) on behalf of Stockport Council, with construction to be supported by £4.4 million from Cheadle’s Towns Fund grant from government, which is also delivering local walking and cycling improvements and a new train station.
Paul Richards, Director of Development and Regeneration at Stockport Council, said:
“We can now take forward this exciting opportunity to create a groundbreaking, sustainable new employment zone which will not only have a positive impact on the environment, but will also mean more jobs, which will be a huge boost the local economy.
“We look forward to working alongside NSD to progress plans and demonstrate our commitment in tackling climate change alongside our CAN (Climate Action Now) work.”
Set to create upwards of 200 jobs once complete, the development is central to the Town Investment Plan, which will unlock Cheadle’s economic potential and drive clean growth. NSD worked closely with the Cheadle Town Fund Board in developing the proposals.
The development will appeal to a wide range of businesses, targeting occupiers operating in the clean growth and green technology sector alongside commercial occupiers seeking low carbon and highly sustainable business premises. CBRE and B8 have been appointed to market the development.
Catherine Chilvers, Development Director at Network Space Developments, said:
“On behalf of Stockport Council, we’re delighted to be leading such an environmentally exemplar development, pursuing low carbon technologies and building materials to target net zero carbon in both construction and operation. Alongside the use of air source heat pumps and solar PVs, the design will help to minimise occupier energy demand and usage. We are actively exploring the use of structural timber frames and we look forward to shortly commencing the detailed design process.”
The 7-acre Eco Business Park site lies close to the M60 between Stockport and Cheadle. Currently comprising hard standing and older, inefficient industrial buildings, the proposals include tree planting and landscaping which, alongside environmental swales, will deliver Biodiversity Net Gain, significantly exceeding current planning policy.
Outdoor wellbeing space, electric vehicle charging and cycling amenities will be provided, and as part of the site’s redevelopment, there will be investment into initiatives to encourage active travel to work, including cycle/footpath improvements in the locality.
The project team includes architects, AEW, Spawforths planning, Tyler Grange landscape and ecology, Wilde Consulting Engineers and M&E from Kaizen Consulting.