New urban neighbourhood a step closer with planning submission

The redevelopment of part of Stockport College campus into a new urban village has taken an important step forward with the submission of a detailed planning application from the Investar Property Group.

Royal George Village will transform a key part of the town centre providing 442 apartments, car parking provision, new offices, start-up space, high-quality new public realm and landscaping to both provide new pedestrian routes and frame listed buildings.

Investar chief executive Michael Dong, said: “Despite the restrictions of the last eight weeks the team has worked tremendously hard to take on board the comments made during the extended consultation period to finalise the plans and ensure we are on track to deliver this ground-breaking scheme.”

Investar was selected as preferred developer last November to redevelop surplus college land and buildings and the plans have been submitted as a joint application with The Trafford College Group which operates the college.

The three-acre site, bounded by Greek Street and Wellington Road South, currently consists of six buildings, two of which would be retained.

The design by DAY Architectural would see:

• The Torkington Building converted into 122 apartments providing high quality housing for Stockport residents;
• The Grade II-listed Greek Street Building (former Metropolitan Girls’ School) converted into collaborative co-working space to encourage local business;
• The Lyme Centre demolished and replaced with a new apartment building providing 258 new homes;
• A new gateway building providing 62 apartments at the corner of Greek Street and Royal George Street;
• Demolition of the Hexagon lecture hall to create high-quality new public realm and civic space to enhance the setting of the Grade II*-listed War Memorial Art Gallery and former Metropolitan Girls’ School;
• Demolition of the University Centre to provide an attractive internal south-facing courtyard creating new public open space and private gardens for residents;
• Permeability through the site for members of the public;
• Complementary commercial uses at street level.

Investar head of development, James Alderson, said: “The plans embrace the old and welcome the new to create a real sense of place, a place with character and open space, within walking distance of good public transport and local facilities.

“This is not a gated community but a new neighbourhood at the heart of the town which will be accessible to all. It fits the local authority’s huge ambition to provide high-quality new homes and retain and create jobs, while adding social and economic value.”

The scheme would be delivered in three phases allowing the college to lease back the Lyme Building and the Greek Street Building until its new campus is completed.

Michelle Leslie, vice principal for corporate services and planning at The Trafford College Group, said: “We are pleased to see the planning application reach the submission stage of the process and we are looking forward to the next stage of the project working with our colleagues at the Investar Property Group.

“Alongside the continued redevelopment of Stockport College, which is due for completion early next year and will provide an education campus the town can be proud of, the Royal George Village will create a thriving residential and commercial hub that will serve the community of Stockport for many years to come.”

Subject to planning being approved work would start on site early in 2021 with the conversion of the 120,000 sq ft Torkington Building.

Completion of the entire development will be by the end of 2024.

The Investar team includes DAY Architectural, Buro Happold Engineering, Rider Levett Bucknall, planning consultant WSP Indigo, WSP Transportation, LAYER Studio, Gray Scanlan Hill, Wardell Armstrong, Salford Archaeology and FPCR. JMW Solicitors LLP is providing legal advice.