New homes approved for former Heaton Mersey school site

North Wales-based housebuilders, Anwyl Group, have had plans approved for 82 properties to be built on the former Focus School site in Heaton Mersey.

The businesses acquired the site in April 2022, after it had been disused since 2019 when the independent school operated by the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church moved to a new campus outside the borough.

Planning consent for the Heaton Mersey site was already approved for 34 dwellings, however, Anwyl will now bring forward 72 retirement apartments and 10 semi-detached houses on the site. The apartments would all be offered as affordable homes under Older Persons Shared Ownership tenure. All the vacant school structures will be demolished as part of the proposals.

Proposals were approved by councillors on Thursday, 23rd March 2023 during the meeting of Stockport Council’s Planning & Highways Regulation Committee, in line with recommendations from the council’s planning officers.

Despite their approval, some councillors expressed that additional improvements to plans could be made to improve their sustainability credentials, including through the installation of low-carbon technology such as solar cells and air-source heat pumps, as well as to improve protections for wildlife on the site. It was also remarked that further work may be needed to ensure the development does not adversely impact traffic on Didsbury Road, already a congested route through Heaton Mersey.