Work progresses on King Street West affordable homes

Great Places Housing Group has shared how work has progressed on its £16.4 million affordable development at King Street West in Stockport town centre.

Cllr Colin Macalister, Stockport Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, accompanied by Paul Richards, Chief Executive, Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), were joined by Matthew Harrison, Chief Executive of Great Places, and members of the project team for a tour of the site. The new development is situated in the heart of the Stockport Mayoral Corporation Town Centre West regeneration area, which looks to form a new gateway in the town centre with 3,500 homes and more than 1 million sq. ft. of commercial space.

Built on the site of a former car wash and part-funded by Homes England, King Street West will consist of 73 one- and two-bed apartments available through the Rent to Buy tenure.

Rent to Buy offers customers the opportunity to save a deposit through reducing the rent to 80 per cent of market rent for at least five years. If residents choose to then buy their home, the product is designed to ensure they have the deposit saved and options available to make their purchase.

Commenting on the visit, Matthew Harrison, Chief Executive at Great Places, said:

“We’re delighted to have had the opportunity to show Cllr Macalister around the site, the first of our two planned developments in the Stockport Mayoral Corporation Town Centre West regeneration area.

“In line with the MDC’s aspirations to develop the western gateway into a residential location of choice, our plans have carefully considered how these homes will contribute to the long-term development of a resilient and vibrant new community, benefitting from all the town centre attractions whilst adding to its wider sustainability.

“We’re pleased to offer these new homes through rent to buy, in order to make them accessible to future buyers, providing people with the all-important chance to purchase a property in what will become an increasingly popular area.”

“King Street West will complement our other planned development at nearby Chestergate, which subject to planning will deliver a further 144 affordable homes.”

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

“This site on King Street West is a really important component of the council and Mayoral Development Corporation’s vision for delivering new affordable homes and jobs in the borough as part of the Town Centre West development.

“On the back of the news that the Sunday Times has made Stockport the best place to live in the North West, this development will be of real benefit for those wanting to live in our borough. It’s not just us saying we’re one of the most exciting towns around, it’s coming from respected people from across the country.

“It was great to see the progress made so far on site, and I’m really looking forward to coming back and visiting the development once it has been completed.”

King Street West, delivered in partnership with Hargreaves Contacting, is expected to be completed in Spring 2025. The development will be marketed as the Platform by Great Places’ shared ownership specialists, Plumlife Homes.

Also within the MDC’s Town Centre West regeneration district, a second affordable apartments scheme on Chestergate is expected to garner planning approval from Stockport Council, adding a further 144 homes to the area.