Proposals for a huge town-centre neighbourhood in Stockport with up to 1,300 new homes have been approved.

Councillors on Stockport's planning committee granted the £250m project on August 14 during a meeting at the town hall.

It will see industrial buildings to the west of Stockport Viaduct demolished to make way for the new community.

It has been described as 'by far the largest residential proposal that has come forward in the borough', and is led by developer ECF working with Stockport council and the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC).

Cllr Mike Newman said: "We've got to capitalise on and play our part in the very exciting success of the Greater Manchester region economically, I think we've got to share the confidence of our Victorian [ancestors], we look back and these guys went for it, so we'd be foolish not to go for what we can go for, and share their confidence."

The designs involve creating a 'well-connected walkable place' as well as 1,573 sqm of space for businesses and the community.

Currently, the land is home to a mix of low-rise buildings on the intersection of King Street West and Daw Bank, including industrial and office use, as well as surface level car parking.

A visual of how the Stockport 8 neighbourhood could look (Image - Stockport MDC)

The transformation includes putting up three detached buildings between nine and 11 stories in height in plot one of the scheme, based on the existing Stagecoach bus depot which would be demolished.

Plots two and three will see buildings up to 11 and 16 stories in height. The tallest tower would be up to 94m, higher than the 34m Viaduct that is a famous part of Stockport's skyline.

Heritage concerns were raised by both Historic England and the Victorian Society about the height of the buildings.

The Victorian Society said in its representation that it 'recognises the need for housing' in Stockport, but added the work 'is considered to be unsympathetic and would result in harm to the significance of the grade-II listed viaduct.'

The plans do not include any affordable housing, but ECF has previously said it is trying to include 82 affordable homes as part of plot 1B.

A council officer explained the lack of affordable housing as a result of the 'cost of implementing the development.'

Another proposed view of Stockport 8 (Image - Stockport MDC)

Some councillors also raised concerns about the development.

Cllr Dean Fitzpatrick said Stockport 'needs to build homes like we've never done before,' but raised fears about the scale of the work.

He said: "I have some real concerns about the cumulative scale and mass of development in the area. We look back on the achievements of previous generations, and I am concerned that future generations will wonder why we did this in this area."

Cllr Sue Glithero added: "Essentially what we're going to be left with is three tall blocks of flats in the town centre, which add to other tall blocks of flats, which provide no affordable houses, no family houses."

However, the application was approved after a vote, with eight councillors voting in favour, and three abstentions.

Planning reports describe the project as 'essentially for car-free living development' and it includes 15 general and seven accessible parking bays.

Other parking in the form of 12 accessible bays is proposed to be laid out perpendicular to Viaduct Street carriageway, and two accessible bays and one car club bay are currently earmarked to be provided alongside Chestergate.

The works could start in 2026 and continue in phases until June 2034.

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