Royal Oak Brewery develop starts on site
WORK has started to redevelop a former Stockport brewery into a new £6 million affordable housing development.
Equity Housing Group and its contractor, North West building company Southdale, is building 51 new homes on the disused Royal Oak Brewery site close to the town centre. It follows a £2.4 million investment from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).
Apartments will be available for rent and for sale, through shared ownership. The first residents are expected to move in around February 2012.
The main brewery building is being retained and converted while new buildings will be added to form a U-shaped development.
David Fisher, Chief Executive of Equity Housing Group, said, “We are delighted to be commencing work on this landmark scheme for Equity Housing Group, which is one of the biggest projects we have undertaken in our recent history.
“Not only are we transforming an historic site and retaining many original features, we are also offering people struggling to get that all important first foot on the property ladder various opportunities to realise their ambitions of becoming home owners.
“Equity has been working with Stockport Council and the Homes and Communities Agency for several years to find ways to bring this scheme to market. The appointment of our contractors Southdale and work subsequently starting on site marks the beginning of something very exciting.”
Deborah McLaughlin, Executive Director North West at the HCA, said: “It’s great to see that the redevelopment of such an important local site as the Royal Oak Brewery is now making progress.
