Former vicarage given new lease of life
The former St George’s Vicarage in Davenport that has been vacant since 2001 and blighted by vandals is to be transformed after planning permission was granted by Stockport Council.
Property developer Harrison Hunt got to the go-head from councillors at a recent planning committee which will see the Grade II-listed building, off Buxton Road, once again become part of the local community.
The vicarage will be converted and extended to provide 13 new apartments and an additional six new family homes will be built within its gardens.
The application, which was prepared with help from Manchester-based planning and design consultancy, Barton Willmore, alongside architects Sanderson Borland, demonstrated how the development will provide a viable scheme capable of rescuing the heritage asset and provide housing to help meet local needs.
Planning committee members at Stockport Council praised the quality of the scheme and its ability to restore the heritage asset to its former glory, protecting the setting of the adjacent Grade I-listed church. The scheme was also widely supported by local residents and Historic England.
Ian Gilbert, planning associate at Barton Willmore, said: “It was incredibly important to us and Harrison Hunt to secure the future of the former vicarage following years of vandalism.
“The approved plans will see the building return to its former glory, and at the same time provide much-needed housing in the area.”
Diana Borland, from Harrison Hunt, added: “We are delighted to have gained planning consent and LBC for the former St George’s Vicarage scheme.
“Our collaborative working relationship from the outset with our architects, Sanderson Borland, and with our planning consultants, Barton Willmore, and with the planning team at Stockport Council, is testament to the final result.
“It was our drive for sensitive restoration, contemporary design and high-quality finishes, together with a thorough understanding of the immediate and surrounding site, which has been the foundation for this project which, in turn, secured our consent.
“This site has been a long-standing problem for the community for the best part of two decades and has been frustrating to watch this beautiful site fall into further disrepair.
“We are all very proud of our scheme and we are very excited about bringing the vicarage and its site back to life for the local community.”
