Start of ‘unwrap’ at £8m Summers Quay

Future tenants due to move into the new £8m Summers Quay development in Tameside, Greater Manchester later this year have visited the site with their local MP to mark the start of the building being ‘unwrapped’.

It will take around six weeks to remove the scaffolding and unveil the Stalybridge scheme where 67 luxury one and two bed apartments and penthouses for private rent are being built.

The process will also see approximately 45,000 sq ft of mesh sheeting taken down from the seven-storey building at Armentieres Square to reveal its façade for the first time.

Summers Quay is the first private rent development to be undertaken by housing association New Charter Group, through its commercial property arm, Cavendish Property Developments. Returns from the development will be reinvested into affordable housing across Greater Manchester.

The scheme is key to the regeneration of Stalybridge and last week Tameside Council confirmed the area will receive further support from Greater Manchester (GM) Mayor Andy Burnham, who visited the site earlier this month as part of his Town Centre Challenge.

Stalybridge is one of 10 towns from across Greater Manchester to be put forward for the challenge which is a new initiative to breathe life back into town centres with a focus on better housing and a steer away from green-field development.

Summers Quay is expected to complete in July and a third of apartments have already been reserved off-plan during a special offer last month.

Stalybridge and Hyde MP Jonathan Reynolds said: “Summers Quay is a brilliant development that’s turned a site that needed regeneration into an asset for Stalybridge.

“Town centres are important to any town and we need a bright future for Stalybridge which means people living in the centre with retail and leisure facilities and this development feels like a good step forward. I’ve been to the top of the building and the views are fantastic.”

John Ardern, director of development at New Charter Group added: “As a trusted landlord we want to build a range of quality for homes and we hope Summers Quay brings brand confidence into the private rented sector.

“We’ve had lots of interest in the apartments so far and a third have already been reserved during the first month of opening reservations which is fantastic.

“The removal of the scaffolding signifies a really important time for Stalybridge and Greater Manchester’s Mayor’s Town Centre Challenge should attract continued growth and investment to the area.”

David Chilton, director from Rowlinsons who are building the project designed by Pozzoni Architects added: “We are delighted to be delivering this project in a town that is experiencing an exciting renaissance and I believe the properties will meet the rising demand in this area for contemporary and high quality apartment living.”