Plans submitted for Marple Community Hub

Stockport Council has submitted a planning application for a £20 million Community Hub in Marple, which will include a new library, swimming pool and fitness suite, and health clinic.

The project is being supported by a £20 million of Capital Levelling Up funding, with the development also set to include a number of active travel and highways improvements in Marple.

The formal planning submission follows an extensive consultation process to finalise the designs, which will see the Marple’s existing police station, library and a health clinic demolished to make way for the new Community Hub. The scheme will also replace the village’s previous swimming pool which closed in 2018 due to health and safety issues with the building.

Over 750 responses were received by Stockport Council during a consultation period in Autumn 2023, and have led to a number of alterations to plans first put forward by the council. In response feedback from the public, designs now propose additional sustainability measures, including rooftop solar panels and additional EV charging points, while a coach lay-by on Station Road has also been removed from proposals to reduce the number of trees lost to development.

Also in response to the public consultation, the overall size of the building was reduced from thee to two storeys, with the new design by Pozzoni Architects now including the library all on a single level on the ground floor, and the health clinic on the first floor to improve accessibility.

Cllr Colin Macalister, Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration, said:

“We have listened to what the people of Marple have said and this fantastic new facility reflects what local people have wanted in their area for a long time. I am delighted that we continue to move this forward.

“If planning is granted, this hub is going to make a huge, positive impact on the prosperity, health and wellbeing of the residents of Marple and the borough.”

A decision on the development is expected in June 2024. Contractors, Wilmott Dixon have already been appointed for the construction phase, if approved, and have undertaken a number of site surveys ahead of the planning submission.