Stockport Council’s Planning Committee has approved a planning application for an 18 storey apartment scheme in the town centre.
The tower, set to be Stockport’s tallest residential building, will repurpose the site of Piccadilly car park, near St Peter’s Square, creating 98 new homes and 450 sq metres of retail units, as well as public real improvements on Piccadilly and Fletcher Street.
The building will comprise 43 one-bedroom apartments, 40 two-bedroom, and eight three-bedroom dwellings, as well as eight three-bedroom duplex properties with separate entrances onto Fletcher Street. The 18-storey tower will rise out of a six-storey base, with three apartments per floor on the upper levels. The Council’s planning officers recommended the scheme for approval by councillors, following amendments to original plans which added increased affordable housing provision (5% of properties in line with local guidelines) and improved fire safety arrangements.
While councillors approved the scheme citing the efficient use of a brownfield site to meet housing needs, some concerns were raised over the nature of the development. Cllr Wendy Meikle, who abstained on the final vote, warned of the small size of some apartments, as well as the way the tower may dominate the skyline when complete because of its height relative to surrounding buildings. Cllr Philip Harding, who also abstained, commented that approval risked opening the door to other high-density housing and high-rise buildings in Stockport and ‘Hong Kongisation’ of the town centre. Concerns were also raised over the retail units that risked cannibalising footfall from other town centre areas.
Other councillors however who did approve the scheme, felt the 18 storey apartment building offered excellent value for money through a clever repurposing a small, poorly-used site, as well as helping the town centre meet housing needs with brownfield development following Stockport’s withdrawal from the Greater Manchester Spatial Framework.
Regal House owners, Alasasyah Development UK, are the developers on the scheme, which has been designed by Manchester architects, Stephenson Studio. Public realm improvements on Piccadilly are being lead by Re-Form.