A MAJOR development that will see more than 100 properties placed in the heart of Stalybridge town centre has been given the go ahead.
That comes despite moans over a shortage of car parking spaces.
A total of 44 two and three-bedroomed townhouses and 58 one and two bedroomed-apartments, will be built on land around Harrop Street, Water Street and Market Street.
The building that housed Pavilion Bar will be demolished and replaced by a structure containing apartments and a commercial unit in the £27 million scheme, which will also provide 3,000 square metres of public realm work and 90 trees.
And after Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Planning) committee unanimously gave it the go ahead at its meeting on Wednesday, April 15, a new era for that area was promised.
In their report, planning officers stated: “The opportunity to see the sites’ redevelopment, including the replacement of existing derelict buildings within the Stalybridge Conservation Area, would be wholly positive to its overall character and appearance.
“It would make a significant contribution to the on-going investment and regeneration of the town. The design and scale would be a welcome addition to the Stalybridge townscape.”
Steven Kirkham, Tameside Council’s principal planning officer for major projects, detailed how the buildings will blend in with existing landmarks and ‘reflects Stalybridge’s industrial heritage.’
He added: “The long-term vacant buildings on Market Street reflect very poorly on the conservation area.
“There are significant regeneration benefits. There are significant public benefits associated with the provision of all units on an affordable basis, along with the general environmental improvements.”
All properties will be marketed on an affordable basis, although Louisa McCarthy, of agents AshtonHale, admitted no provider had yet been identified.
She said: “It’s an incredibly sustainably located, but hugely underutilised brownfield site.
“As it stands, it detracts from the vitality of the town centre. There will be well designed, high quality, public and private amenity spaces for residents throughout the development.
“The replacement of Pavilion and surrounding structures will noticeably improve the appearance and function of Market Street, supporting aa more attractive and active high street.
“This is an exciting opportunity to bring the site back into beneficial use and support the ongoing regeneration of Stalybridge town centre.”
Panel member and Stalybridge councillor Adrian Pearce welcomed the development and the impact it will make on its town centre., saying: “It’s something we’ve been working on, cross-party, for 10 years.”
He also called for people living either in or near Stalybridge have a ‘fair crack of the whip’ in accessing the affordable properties.
However, while voting for the scheme, fellow town representative Cllr Doreen Dickinson questioned why there were only 56 car parking spaces.
She said: “We’ve got loads of cycle parking – I never see a bike in Stalybridge, other than at weekend.
“But for people going tow ork, you never see a bike. We’ve a bike repair machine in the middle of Armentieres Square that’s rusting – no-one ever uses it.
“We’ve so many cycle hubs, but you never see a bike. Here we’ve 56 parking spaces for 102 houses. Yet we’ve a massive bike store, I just don’t get it.
“If you live near a station, at times you might go to work on a bus or train, but you still want to go and see your Auntie Ethel out in Chapel-en-le-Frith and you need a car.
“It’s just a fact of life.”
Councillors approved the application, subject to a suitable legal agreement to address biodiversity net gain, site landscaping maintenance and travel plan monitoring being struck.