Stockport is the only Greater Manchester borough not signed up to the region's joint masterplan - and has again put its own plan on hold after the government signalled changes to the planning system are in the pipeline.
It is the first project to be brought forward under the much-vaunted regeneration of Town Centre West - also known as the Mayoral Development Corporation . While restoration of the mill has been widely welcomed, the inclusion of a 14-storey apartment block has proven controversial, as it will obscure views of the town’s landmark viaduct.
A total of 573 homes will be spread across a trio of buildings, rising in height from five to 15 storeys. The scheme also includes space for a range of potential uses such as shops, cafes, gyms and creches. However the original infirmary, new infirmary and girls’ workshop have all fallen into serious disrepair and will be demolished.Stockport’s new ‘21st century library’ is set to open at Merseyway in the autumn.Provisionally dubbed ‘Stockroom’ it will be five times larger than the long-standing Grade II-listed library on the A6, allowing it to display 5,000 more books.
Some of the columns set to support the new town centre park have also begun to emerge into the sky. Part of the ongoing £1bn regeneration of the town centre, it will boast 20 bus stands, a fully-covered passenger concourse, a seated waiting area and ‘real time’ information screens. Manchester-based Promised Way Ltd is proposing a mix of one, two and three-bed homes for the land near Stitch Lane, in Heaton Norris - which was previously used by a vehicle sales firm. The property firm says the scheme has been designed to emphasise the 'immense historical importance' of the engine house, and enhance its visibility from Wellington Road.
They should just level the lot !
More traffic lights and no entry roads unless your a taxi causing the town centre traffic to be grid locked no thanks