By George Lythgoe, Local Democracy Reporting Service
TAMESIDE Council wants to ‘remediate’ four sites in Stalybridge that are crucial to a multi-million pound development scheme.
The authority wants to press ahead with plans for its Stalybridge West scheme, which would see new housing, improved roads, public realm upgrades, a new multi-storey car park and a pedestrian footbridge in the town.
As The Correspondent has reported in the past, it is hoped the area between the town’s bus station – which may be moved – and the train station will be redeveloped.
In the Caroline Street area, 10 four-bedroomed houses will be built, with six along Bridge Street and a community garden between them and the other four with a riverside boardwalk next to them.
On what is currently the main car park on Castle Street, 123 one and two-bedroomed apartments will be built, along with live/work properties and undercroft parking.
On the smaller car park nearby, 18 one and two-bedroomed apartments will be built above a commercial unit, again with undercroft parking.
The current car park on Waterloo Road will also be made muti-storey.
But to do that, land it owns must be cleared of anything that may hinder the aims.
So the council has applied for ‘remediation ground works, including site clearance and engineering operations to remove associated contamination and former industrial legacy structures’ at Caroline Street, Bridge Street and its car parks on Castle Street and Waterloo Road.
Documents supporting the proposal highlighted what may cause issues, including a former cotton mill, chimney and boiler and engine room at Castle Street, with the presence of asbestos found in parts as a result of demolished buildings.
There, Castle Mills started in 1815 as a steam-powered cotton spinning mill and underwent numerous expansions throughout the 19th century, with buildings remaining in use until at least the mid-20th century.
The land at Caroline Street – formerly used as the site of an iron and brass foundry and even a brewery showed – showed some hydrocarbon contamination and soil conditions led to the conclusion a piled foundation solution was best for the pedestrian footbridge over the River Tame.
However, if permission is approved, work will be done to clear those sites of pollutants or contaminants, so it is safe to reuse for future development.
A Tameside Council spokesperson said: “I can confirm that these are the council owned sites identified for new residential development and the new multi-storey car park in the case of Waterloo Road.
“This is set out in the Stalybridge Town Centre Framework, Stalybridge West Development Prospectus and on the Council Regenerating Stalybridge webpages.
“These planning applications are required so that the land can be remediated to enable future development.”
The Stalybridge West scheme was detailed in a prospectus Tameside Council drew up to market the opportunity to developers.
In it, it said: “Stalybridge West is comprised of a number of large vacant and under-used sites in council and private ownership to the west of Stalybridge town centre, close to the rail station.
“The area has been identified as an opportunity to create a vibrant town centre residential community in a highly sustainable location that will support the local economy.
“When developed, the plans provide for a mix of housing types and tenures available in secure environments surrounded by new and refurbished commercial and public buildings enhancing local services, set within a high-quality public realm environment.
“A new destination created with local jobs, amenities, public spaces, access to leisure, the river and canal towpaths, town centre cultural activity, where homes will be central to the hub of activity.
“The existing and future town centre regeneration projects and programme will continue to run alongside the Stalybridge West redevelopment sites and together they will spearheading a new chapter for this town.”
Funding for the £11.2 million infrastructure works comes from the £19.9 million Tameside Council received for Stalybridge from the government’s Levelling Up Fund.
And the prospectus emphasises reusing brownfield sites.
It adds: “As much use as possible should be made of previously developed land, with substantial weight given to the value of using suitable brownfield land in settlements for new homes.
“There has been a continued shift towards a recognition that the character and function of all town centres has changed.
“While they remain important for retail, leisure and commercial activities, there has also been an increased focus upon the delivery of residential development.
“This has partly been a response to the need to exploit brownfield development opportunities, where they exist, but also a recognition that an increase in the number of people who live close to and within our town centres, brings with it increased footfall, improved security, increased spend and use of existing town centre services, and potentially wide-reaching sustainability benefits.
“There are major gaps within the built fabric of the town centre which are seen opportunities for residential led mixed-use development, exploiting their waterside locations and building upon the rich heritage of Stalybridge.”
Elsewhere in Stalybridge, Levelling Up Fund money will go towards the regeneration of the Astley Cheetham Library and Art Gallery, the town’s Civic Hall, public realm works and the road network.