Stewart Milne to start on Mill Green scheme

Stewart Milne Homes North West has secured planning permission for a 96 unit residential scheme in the village of Strines, Stockport.

Didsbury-based NJL Consulting LLP, which acted on behalf of Stewart Milne in securing planning, said the Mill Green development will deliver the regeneration of the former Goyt Mill site to the east of the settlement within the green belt.

NJL added that Stewart Milne took a fresh approach to the delivery of the site by going back to the drawing board to devise a scheme which could align a marketable scheme with added value to the community in the long term.

A partnership with the local community was formed allowing a joint strategy to be formed based around a masterplan which would knit the development into the existing settlement and contribute in adding value to the community in the long term.

Iain Carroll, technical and commercial director at Stewart Milne Homes North West, said: "As developers our objective, from an early stage, was to deliver a scheme which would be more marketable and sustainable than the existing permission. We realised that this project was also an excellent opportunity to work closely with the local community through the Strines Area Residents Association and Stockport Council. We believe this new approval achieves these goals through delivering a scheme which, rather than detract from, enhances, brings additional benefits and a new lease of life to the existing community."

The development aims to bring enhancements to the local recreation and amenity offer for the entire Strines community with upgrades to existing tennis courts, recreation land and community centre as well delivery of a riverside footpath network.

Furthermore, NJL said improvements to existing public transport and the creation of a community bus service is being brought forward with the development.

Mark Saunders, senior planner at NJL, said: "This represents a year of fruitful working with the local community to deliver a mutually beneficial outcome to allow the reuse of this site to genuinely contribute to village life."

Work on site is due to commence before the end of the year.