St Thomas’s Hospital scheme set for approval

Plans to regenerate the former St Thomas’s Hospital site in Stockport town centre have been recommended for approval by council planning officers.

The scheme, one of the flagship developments of the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation’s (MDC) plans for the Town Centre West district, proposes a 70-bed care facility and 68 affordable homes for the disused hospital site.

Developers, Stockport Homes, has proposed 35 apartments in the three existing grade II listed buildings, as well as 19 additional apartments in existing buildings and 13 affordable new-build townhouses; tenure will be 80% shared ownership and 20% social rent.

The project also includes for the Academy of Living Well, a new build 70-bed intermediate care and dementia facility on the St Thomas’ site, to provide support for people transitioning between hospital and home.

Planning officers have welcomed the regenerative benefits and redevelopment of the St Thomas’s Hospital site, which has been vacant since 2004.

Approval for the scheme has been recommended, with Stockport Council’s Central Area Committee expected to grant planning permission on the 11th March.

The site will form part of Stockport MDC’s ambitious regeneration plans for the Town Centre West area, comprising 3,500 new homes and 1 million sq ft of commercial premises. Other schemes moving forward in the area include the redevelopment of Weir Mill and expansion of Stockport Exchange.