Investar submits plans to develop for urban village on Stockport College campus

Investar Property Group has moved into the next phase of the redevelopment of part of the Stockport College campus into an urban village.

Following the acquisition in April, the Manchester based investor has submitted plans for the scheme, named Royal George Village. The three-acre site will be regenerated into a mix of residential properties as well as coworking and commercial property, and green spaces.

The Hexagon lecture hall and the University Centre are due to be demolished while the new scheme will retain two of the current six buildings; the Torkington Building will be converted into 122 apartments and the Grade II-listed Greek Street Building converted into collaborative co-working space, The Lyme Centre will be replaced with a 258-strong residential building and a gateway site comprising 62 flats.

Investar chief executive Michael Dong said:

Despite the restrictions of the last eight weeks, the team has worked tremendously hard to take on board the comments made during the extended consultation period to finalise the plans and ensure we are on track to deliver this ground-breaking scheme.”

Stockport College, who became part of the Trafford College Group last year, will retain its Stockport campus on its current site fronting Wellington Road South.

Michelle Leslie, vice principal for corporate services and planning at The Trafford College Group, which operates the establishment, added:

Alongside the continued redevelopment of Stockport College, which is due for completion early next year and will provide an education campus the town can be proud of, the Royal George Village will create a thriving residential and commercial hub that will serve the community of Stockport for many years to come.”

Investar are hoping to start on site early in 2021 with the conversion of the 120,000 sq ft Torkington Building. Completion of the entire development would be by the end of 2024.

The Investar team includes DAY Architectural, Buro Happold Engineering, Rider Levett Bucknall, WSP Indigo, WSP Transportation, LAYER Studio, Gray Scanlan Hill, Wardell Armstrong, Salford Archaeology and FPCR.

JMW Solicitors is providing legal advice.