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Stockport plan moves forward
Stockport approves a large 1300-home plan with tall towers near the viaduct, amid heritage concerns and questions about affordable housing.
A planning committee has approved a city centre development to provide up to 1,300 homes, including tall blocks that sparked heritage worries.
Stockport approves 1300 homes plan despite height concerns
Stockport council's planning committee approved the development with a £250 million price tag on August 14. The plan would demolish industrial buildings west of Stockport Viaduct to make way for a large walkable neighbourhood and new apartments in the town centre.
Designs include three blocks between nine and 11 storeys in one plot and towers up to 16 storeys in others, with the tallest at about 94 metres, higher than the Stockport Viaduct which stands around 34 metres. The scheme provides limited parking and has no mandatory affordable housing, though the developer has suggested 82 affordable homes on a specific plot. The planning report describes this as essentially a car free living development, with 15 general and seven accessible parking bays and additional bays near Viaduct Street.
Key Takeaways
"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."
Councillor Mike Newman on regional ambition and heritage
"I have some real concerns about the cumulative scale and mass of development in the area, and I am concerned that future generations will wonder why we did this."
Councillor Dean Fitzpatrick expressing fears about scale
"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."
Councillor Sue Glithero on housing mix
The plan reflects a growth push for Greater Manchester, tying housing supply to a walkable town centre. It tests how planners balance new towers with heritage assets and the need for affordable homes.
The political calculus matters. The Stockport mayoral development corporation and council back growth, but heritage groups fear the height could erode the viaduct s significance. The decision also raises questions about public reaction and long term affordability.
Highlights
- Stockport bets on a skyline that reshapes the town
- Heritage height fears meet housing ambitions in Stockport
- Affordability concerns shadow a major redevelopment
- A bold plan tests Stockport's balance of past and future
Heritage height debate and budget concerns
The plan combines a 250 million pound price tag with tall towers near a grade II listed viaduct and limited affordable housing, raising questions about affordability, heritage impact and political support.
The plan moves ahead, but the city faces a tough test balancing growth with place and history.
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