By George Lythgoe

The future of four different developments will be decided upon this week at Stockport's monthly planning committee meeting. 

The plans include a new drive-thru Greggs, the transformation of two different sites into a total of 122 apartments and a new school for Hazel Grove. Only three out of four of the planning applications were recommended for approval after the Greggs drive-thru was deemed unsuitable by two area committees.

Both the Central Stockport Area Committee and the Cheadle Area Committee had concerns this could increase traffic problems in the Stockport Road area around the Farmers Arms site.

Other items on the agenda are smaller in scale and include smaller housing developments of two to three homes as well as house extensions.

Demolition of Farmers Arms to be replaced with Greggs drive-thru

The proposed plans for the new Greggs would see the Farmers Arms Pub in Cheadle Heath be demolished. According to the planning statement put forward by applicants Greene King Brewing and Retail Limited, this development would bring the derelict site back into use and provide 35 new jobs for the area.

The vacant pub closed down back in March 2020. Since it closed there have been incidents of vandalism and anti-social behaviour despite Greene King's efforts to prevent this.

The Farmers Arms has been derelict since 2020 (Image - Walsingham)

This site is accessed off Edgeley Road and situated in the centre of Cheadle Heath. It would have 24 car parking spaces and two bays in the drive-thru to take customers orders. 

The restaurant would be open during the hours of 6am to 11pm seven days a week. Objection letters from 64 locals were originally submitted to Stockport Council about this. The main reasons behind them were associated with traffic around the site already being a problem as well as concerns over the impact on public health.

Conversion of Lambert House office block into 98 apartments

The office buildings off Stockport Road in Cheadle would be changed to residential use as they are converted into two apartment buildings as part of the plans submitted by Empire Property Concepts. The building comprises two blocks (A and B) which would be linked by a first floor footbridge. 

Block A would be four storeys in height and have 68 apartments. Block B would be three storeys in height with 30 apartments. 

The Lambert House office block could be set for a new lease of life (Image - Google Maps)

The residential accommodation would be a mix of one and two bedroom apartments. The development also proposes co-working spaces and a residents' gym, as well as associated bin storage and amenity space.

Additionally there would be 109 car parking spaces on the site for residents to use. Council Highways Engineers recommended refusal on the grounds that the development would fail to provide sufficient parking spaces with facilities for the charging of electric vehicles. Despite this the proposal was recommended for approval by planning officers.

24 new apartments in place at Higher Hillgate and Higher Barlow Row

A former kitchen and heating warehouse that has been left to become overgrown by greenery could be transformed into 24 apartments. Stockport Homes wants permission to create a 100% affordable housing scheme on behalf of the council at the Higher Hillgate site. 

This means every single apartment would be available at a cheaper rate. The developer highlighted in the report that this has become a 'blight' on the local area and is in desperate need of regeneration.

How the 24 apartments at Hillgate could look (Image - Stockport Council)

With the site being a short distance away from Stockport town centre, this is seen by developers as an ideal location for the scheme. A legal agreement in relation to clawback fees from Homes England would be required before development could take place – if the plans are approved.

Planning officers have given a recommendation to grant planning permission subject to conditions.

New SEND school for Stockport

The Department for Education has located a section of Hazel Grove High School to be the best spot for a new special education needs school in Stockport to be called Laurus Grace. The plans include a two storey building with seven SEN classrooms and 10 general use classrooms. 

Hazel Grove High School would see their tennis/netball courts to make way for the new school – which would also be part of the Laurus Trust. The new school off Jacksons Lane for 80 pupils would be accompanied by 100 parking spaces, a fitness studio and engineering suite. 

A model of how the new Laurus Grace SEND school could look (Image - Stockport Council)

The tennis/netball courts will be re-provided to the east of the existing Hazel Grove High School. There are also two garages which are to be demolished to make space for the new school – if plans are approved.

Planning officers have given a recommendation to grant planning permission subject to conditions.

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READ MORE: Robinsons brewery expands presence in Cheshire with re-opened pub

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