Piccadilly car park tower set for approval after raising affordable housing provision

An 18 storey mixed use retail and apartment scheme proposed for the site of Piccadilly Car Park in Stockport town centre is expected to be approved by planners following an increase in affordable housing provision was added to plans.

Proposals for 90 apartments and 8 townhouses on the scheme, which also includes new retail units and public realm improvements near St Peter’s Square had previously not included any affordable housing provision. A decision on the planning application was expected in December 2020, but delayed following a number of amendments to designs.

15 of the one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments on the scheme have now been designated to be made available for social or affordable rent. Local planning guidelines stipulate between 5% and 15% of such developments should comprise affordable homes. Amended fire escape options have also been added to proposals in light of concerns over the building’s height. Once completed, the scheme would become Stockport’s tallest residential building.

Proposals also include two retail units at street level with floorspace totalling 450 sq metres that will bring additional employment into the town centre, in addition to the economic benefits of jobs that will be supported during construction.

Stockport Council’s planning committee will meet on 14th January to discuss the plans. Planning officers have recommended the amended proposals for approval due to its contribution to meeting the borough’s housing needs through brownfield site development.

The scheme has been designed by Manchester architects, Stephenson Studio, with the brick structure and central stair-column reflecting the chimneys and sawtooth roofs of warehouses and mills elsewhere in the town. Public realm improvements on Piccadilly are being lead by Re-Form.