Approval for £70m Stockport resi but Hatters’ stadium needs extra time
The local authority has approved Progressive Living and Picture This’ plans for a 245-home scheme at Fletcher Street, while Stockport County FC’s desire to expand Edgeley Park was deferred for another day.
Land At Victoria House and Fletcher Street Car Park
Stockport Council’s planning committee unanimously agreed to allow PL Victoria, a partnership between developer Progressive Living and resi operator Picture This, to follow through on its £70m plans for 245 homes.
The partnership is now set to deliver 100 one-bedroom apartments, 91 two-bedroom apartments, 42 three-bedroom apartments, and 12 two-bedroom townhouses on the site of the derelict Victoria House office and the adjacent Fletcher Street surface-level car park.
With the approval, demolition and enabling works could start this year, and construction is expected to begin in spring 2026, following BSA Gateway 2 approval. Summer 2028 is the target date for completion.
Credit: via Nutshell Communications
AEW Architects designed the scheme, which is broken into three elements and rises from eight storeys off Fletcher Street, to 12 storeys off Wellington Street, and 20 storeys off the corner of Piccadilly.
The development has been facilitated with financial support from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority brownfield fund.
David Fairclough, director, Progressive Living, said the approval “represents a major milestone” for the project that has been six years in the making.
He added: “With demolition due to start later this year, we’re looking forward to delivering much-needed homes in a sustainable, future-focused way.”
Euan Kellie Property Solutions is the planner behind the application. Picture This is set to manage the scheme.
Shannon Conway, co-founder, Picture This, said: “Greater Manchester’s Creating Age-Friendly Developments guidance provided a valuable framework for designing a scheme that is accessible, sustainable, and welcoming to people of all ages—from 0 to 100.
“We’re excited to carry these values forward as we enter the next stage of development.”
Credit: via Nutshell Communications
Cllr Micheala Meikle, cabinet member for economy, regeneration, and skills, Stockport Council, said “With the mayoral development corporation delivering 8,000 homes and the Metrolink on the horizon, we’re building a town that works for the future – somewhere people choose to live, work, and put down roots.
“This is exactly the kind of accessible, sustainable scheme we want to see in the town centre — creating homes for all ages as part of a thriving, low-carbon community.”
Those working on the scheme include re-form, Renaissance, Zerum, OFR, GIA, Novo, Our Studio, Jameson Acoustics, SK Transport, Turley, and Oxford Archaeology.
To view the scheme’s planning documents, use the reference number DC/094653 on Stockport Council’s planning portal.
Three sides of the ground would be enhanced in the scheme. Credit: Vita
Edgeley Park stadium expansion
The EFL League One team’s owner, Vita Group, will have to wait another day to take Edgeley Park stadium’s capacity up to 18,000 after the local authority’s planning committee voted to defer the application.
Cllr Steve Gribbon, chair of the planning and highways regulation committee, Stockport Council, said: “Because of information which has come to light at short notice, we want to make sure that planning officers give us the correct information and that the correct decision is reached.”
He then indicated he supported a deferral, which was echoed by those in the chamber.
Stockport County wants to add roughly 7,400 seats to Edgeley Park, which has been its home ground since 1903.
Full persimmon is being sought for the demolition of the East Stand to make way for a modern alternative, adding 3,083 seats, in addition to a refurbishment and extension of the North Stand to make it more accessible.
The club is also seeking outline permission for a replacement 5,500-person South stand, which would include an F&B offer, a community area, and club offices.
Asteer Planning and Development has led the application process, hoping to implement architect FWP’s designs for the extension.
To view the application, use the planning reference number DC/092211 in Stockport Council’s planning portal.
Stockport seems to be taking a similar design approach to Leeds. Greater Manchester is very smart in taking multiple approaches.
By Anonymous
So Stockport County want to allow the removal of green space in a conservation area to facilitate a small amount of parking at the expense of greenery and wildlife, bringing cars and activity closer to residential properties whilst encouraging car borne trips. Surely this can’t be allowed to happen.
By Anonymous
I cannot understand why the council are pussy footing around accepting last minute info. Plenty of time was granted previously and using wildlife as the excuse. There is plenty of wildlife space around the 2 Syke’s reservoir area. The council should be proud of Stockport County and all they bring to the town.
By Tony N
Approval, for more apartments, means more revenue, for incompetent council
By Concerned resident
At £245k average – these are far from affordable. Urban centres need low cost housing (for sale and rent) for young and growing families. Focus has been on high cost housing and more and more expensive retirement villages.
By A Northerner
In recent years a large swathe of the land to the rear of Edgeley Park was cleared to upgrade and widen an existing footpath. Where was the objections then? Or was it simply the fact that the footpath upgrade, benefitted them by providing a shorter route to the train station and town centre. The comment about an increase in vehicular traffic is somewhat misleading, as the ground side of Moscow Road East is currently used for parking on match days. Ergo, creation of the car park would not increase traffic, it would remove the current level of on-street parking.
By Anonymous
What about the wild life there?
By Paul knight
Anonymous 4.18pm you are right about the footpath, but wasn’t there also planning consent for affordable apartments? What happened to them? Are they still getting built?
By Anonymous
I can only think the deferral because of new information must mean that there was previous incorrect information either in the application or the officers report, which (having been told it was wrong) would leave any decision open to legal challenge. Better to take a few weeks, correct the information and then determine the application.
By Anonymous