£24m Stockport College scheme moves one step closer
Stockport College’s redevelopment has moved one step closer with key planning milestones being hit, illustrated by stunning new images of the final scheme.
Indigo Planning has submitted a major planning application to Stockport Council to redevelop the main College campus, following an extensive public consultation.
The £24m proposals include creating a new main entrance, erecting a new building known as ‘The Street’ to link the campus together, demolishing redundant floorspace, refurbishing existing buildings both internally and externally and introducing new landscaping and courtyards.
This follows Stockport Council’s approval of a planning application for enabling works, comprising partial demolition of the Vernon Centre on Royal George Street, which will make way for a new college car park when demolition starts this Autumn.
Students and staff will be relocated to other parts of the college site while the works are ongoing.
The plans have been submitted on behalf of The Trafford College Group who have merged with Stockport College in a bid to turn around its fortunes.
Subject to receiving approval, the scheme is due to be fully complete in December 2020.
The scheme, designed by Project 3 Architects, will create a striking new appearance along Wellington Road to improve the perception of the college and wider town centre.
The wider project team includes Rider Levett Bucknall, Planit-IE, Hydrock, CBO Transport, Ecology Solutions, FPCR Environment and Design, Sub Surface North West and Renaissance, with Wates as construction partner.
The recent consultation revealed an overwhelming level of support for the scheme and the draft masterplan proposals to redevelop the vacant Greek Street campus for other uses.
The masterplan will be finalised in the coming weeks and submitted to the council, providing assurance that the college is committed to redeveloping the whole site.
Indigo Planning executive director, Doug Hann, said: “The proposed redevelopment will not only regenerate the college campus providing new teaching spaces and facilities, but will also free up surplus buildings and land which are suitable for conversion or redevelopment for new uses.
“This is a prominent site along the A6 corridor and its redevelopment will bring significant improvements to the area aligned to the council’s ambitions for the town centre west area.
“We look forward to continue working collaboratively with the college and the council to deliver transformational change to Stockport town centre.”
The Trafford College Group vice principal, Michelle Leslie, said: “We are thrilled with the progress of the applications and are pleased that the exciting new plans for the much needed redevelopment are one step closer to reality.
“We have listened to feedback from students, staff, local residents and businesses and believe that the submitted scheme will achieve our aspirations to revitalise Stockport College.”
Project team members include Indigo Planning (Doug Hann, Matthew Dugdale, Emer Cunningham, Laura Miller), Project 3 Architects, Rider Levett Bucknall, Planit-IE, Hydrock, CBO Transport, Ecology Solutions, FPCR Environment and Design, Sub Surface North West, Renaissance, Wates.
