Stockport prepares to advance LCR station plan
Plots around Hazel Grove and Cheadle Hulme stations have been earmarked for development as part of the council’s ongoing work with the Government-owned land promoter previously known as London & Continental Railways.
In addition, further studies are to be held to examine the potential for redevelopment around two further stations, Bramhall and Rose Hill Marple, in the coming months.
Since last year, LCR has been working with local authorities and its retained consultancy CBRE to explore opportunities to acquire or assemble land with the potential to deliver thousands of homes across the city-region, as Place North West reported in January.
In particular, LCR has been in discussions with Stockport, Trafford and Rochdale councils as part of its work with the Greater Manchester Station Alliance, a partnership comprising LCR, Transport for Greater Manchester, national rail operator Network Rail and relevant rail franchises, intended to deliver regeneration opportunities across the city-region.
The work with Stockport involved identifying which of its 19 railway stations would be best placed for development. A report by the council’s corporate director of place ahead of a meeting next Friday to update on the railway land project highlighted “enormous potential” for commercial or residential development, and/or the consolidation of public services facilities, around all of Stockport’s stations.
Adam Wisher, LCR’s North West regional director, who leads its relationship with the station alliance, told Place North West earlier this year that a total of six underused railway sites across the boroughs of Trafford and Stockport had been identified as of interest.
“We are…looking at potential land acquisitions, whether by us or the relevant local authorities, to help unlock these sites for development,” Wisher said at the time.
He said in a statement today on behalf of the Greater Manchester Station Alliance: “We are in the early stages of working with Stockport Council to help it unlock the potential of the land around its network of stations.
“The opportunities we’ve identified so far are still very much at an early exploration stage and focus on maximising value from public land and the fundamental principle of quality placemaking in Stockport.
“The strategic benefits for the residents of Stockport go a long way to help maximise the potential for sustainable growth at these transport locations. We look forward to consulting with local stakeholders when we have firm proposals to share.”
The council report highlighted the potential identified at Hazel Grove, Cheadle Hulme, Bramhall and Rose Hill Marple, and said: “We are now in a position where we believe that there are viable concept developments to bring forward for two of the stations in the first phase of the portfolio.”
It added: “There are a range of factors that the council must consider in the next stage of analysis to assess whether these are suitable locations for redevelopment and consider the risks of the proposals along with the associated opportunities to local communities at each of the sites.”
Initial discussions have been held with council planning officers to understand the various planning requirements of each of the sites and will be developed further during pre-application talks, the report said.
