By Nick Statham

A developer has revealed plans to build a 'distinctive and high quality' apartment block on the site of a former car repair garage in Stockport town centre. 

Stockport council will make a decision on whether to grant planning permission.

New proposals would see a six-storey building built on the Old Churchgate Autos site – at the corner of Churchgate and Wellington Street. 

The garage buildings would be demolished to make way for 13 new flats, which would all be one-bedroom, apart from a pair of larger duplexes boasting two and three bedrooms respectively.

The scheme includes cycle parking as well as lobby and communal terraces, with the two duplex units also having their own private tenants' spaces.

Artist's impression of what green space could look like at the apartment building (Image - Howard and Seddon)

Lodged by Platinum Pearl Investments, it has emerged as the second phase of a project the developer already has in the pipeline for neighbouring Aspley Street.

Papers submitted with the application say the scheme would 'positively improve the character and quality of the area' – including the removal of 'poor quality buildings' that currently harm the Market and Underbanks conservation area.

They add: "The overall vision for the application site is to provide a distinctive and high quality residential development, which improves the local area and enhances existing green space assets."

Finished in brick, the appearance of the building is said to 'reflect local character' and remain 'in keeping' with the approved Aspley Street development, as well as older apartments in the immediate area.

No car parking is proposed due to the railway station, shopping centre and main high street all being within a ten minute walk of the site. However, covered cycle parking for 15 bikes is provided inside the apartment complex.

The applicant has chosen not to include any affordable housing as the scheme is beneath the 15-home threshold that makes this a requirement. Neither is the proposed site within an area where property prices are above the Stockport average. 

Papers say the scheme would 'provide high quality, new apartments of a range of sizes to meet housing needs'.

This, they add, would boost housing supply in the town centre and help – albeit modestly – to address the 'significant shortfall in housing supply within the borough'.

"Development will not give rise to harm to matters of transport importance as a car-free development located in the most sustainable location in the borough, with access to a full range of services, facilities, shops, leisure, work and transport opportunities and options," the document continues.

It adds that the scheme would do no harm, other than that which could be alleviated by 'standard development controls' such as those around ground conditions, flood risk and noise.