HYDE’S former library will be converted into 102 apartments if planning permission is granted.
And its Victorian façade is set to stay under the multi-million pound scheme.
Hyde Court Ltd, based in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, has applied to Tameside Council to convert the area on Union Street, which critics say has been ‘left to rot.’
Its proposal will see the existing library building, described as being in ‘very poor condition,’ converted into apartments, with two new blocks built alongside on the site of what was Tameside College of Technology.
Financial appraisals say the developer can expect the mixture of properties to bring in just over £17.5 million in sales.
Its actual profit is estimated at £622,001.59, representing 3.5 per cent, significantly lower than a 20 per cent target identified previously.
But it concedes the desire of people in the town means the façade will stay.
Planning documents detail pleas including: “Don’t let beautiful buildings like the old library on Union Street go to ruin.
“If buildings like that are in use they will attract people to the town centre, but if the town centre is full of derelict buildings people will avoid it.”
Also: “PLEASE make Union Street library a part of the town again – it’s a great building with loads of space to use for living, working, creativity and community life.”
But they believe it can revitalise what ‘externally projects itself as a fine Victorian building but internally is in very poor condition.’
They add: “Together the development will provide apartments over the three buildings while instilling a new lease of life into the non-designated heritage asset which is the former Hyde Library.
“It represents a truly sustainable location for development.
“Furthermore, there is strong support from the local community for the site to be reused and not sit vacant and the Hyde Masterplan broadly identifies the site for residential use.”
If approved, the scheme will see a mixture of one, two and three-bedroomed apartments – and of the two-bedroomed properties, they will be further split into ones for three and four people.
It is estimated about 10 per cent will be affordable housing.
The Correspondent entered the 125-year-old building in September 2022 and saw the decay.
Huge holes in the collapsing roof, birds flying around inside the façade, muck and devastation, it was a real scene of carnage.
Pretty much the only thing left standing reasonably intact is the frontage, which will be kept in this scheme.
At the time, Stalybridge and Hyde MP Jonathan Reynolds said: “It’s worse inside than I had anticipated.
“I knew it had been the victim of quite a lot of vandalism but the damage to the roof has really damaged the insides.
“However, this is still a prime site. The challenge for me is I want to see the Victorian features retained. That’s what I want more than anything else.
“People will know the front and the side are the old Victorian parts.
“We’ve got to keep that heritage in the town but there’s lots that can be done with this site, so I want the council to get on with it and do it.”
Now with this latest proposal, hopes are high the Victorian architecture will be saved.
And Mr Reynolds added: “This is really great news.
“102 flats in the centre of Hyde will be a huge boost for the town and support local businesses and that it saves an integral part of the town’s heritage is the icing on the cake.”
Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Planning) committee will decide whether to grant or refuse permission.