Cheshire Homes puts in for 277-flat Stockport mansion block
Designed by Ollier Smurthwaite Architects and inspired by the work of Victorian architect Richard Norman Shaw, the £39.5m project would replace the 83,500 sq ft vacant office block on the site.
Cheshire Homes Group’s application for the 1.5-acre plot at the junction of Wellington Road South and Longshut Lane includes 226 apartments with one bedroom, 38 with two, and 13 with three.
With accessibility in mind, a number of homes would have level access and approximately 25% of the proposed 41 car parking bays would be allocated as disabled spaces.
The 277 apartments would surround a communal courtyard garden. Ground-floor residences would also benefit from private patios.
There will be 277 cycle spaces provided as part of the proposal.
Cheshire Homes has long-term investment ambitions for the site and would retain ownership of the properties after completion. The apartments would, accordingly, be available for rent.
None of the proposed 277 flats will be designated as affordable due to viability concerns.
Azeem Ali, director of Cheshire Homes, said: “We have worked closely with our design and planning team to bring forward a scheme that we believe will make a positive contribution to the area, both through the quality of its architecture and the new homes it will provide.
“Stockport is undergoing significant regeneration, and we see this development as an opportunity to invest in the town’s long-term future.”
The homes have an estimated construction cost of £39.5m and a projected gross development value of £53.1m.
To make way for the scheme, Cheshire Homes would need to demolish Vitality House, a 10-storey office block that was occupied by insurance firm Vitality before the company moved to Stockport Exchange. Prior to Vitality’s occupancy, the building had been known as St Christopher’s House.
In addition to Ollier Smurthwaite, the project team includes planner Paul Buter Associates, landscape architect Trevor Bridge Associates, civils engineer HBL, noise and ecology consultant BEK, and transport planner SK Transport.
Civic is energy and sustainability advisor. Redmore Environmental is the air quality consultant, while Ascerta is charged with arboricultural matters. GIA is the daylight and sunlight expert. Roger Hannah is the viability consultant. GeoAssist is the land risk assessor.
To learn more about the project, search reference DC/100453 on Stockport Council’s planning portal.
READ MORE: Ollier Smurthwaite’s Matt Ollier spoke at Place RESI. Read what he had to say.
