Place RESI 2014: Paul Lawrence, Stockport Council

Place North WestFebruary 2014

INVESTING IN STOCKPORT

Paul LawrenceCorporate Director

Place Management and Regeneration

Stockport – Investment priorities

• Town Centre Regeneration• Transport and Infrastructure• Education and Community

Facilities• Housing

Context•Commitment to maximise Stockport’s potential as a residential, commercial and retail location – one of the strongest of the GM town centres and housing market areas•To improve the offer of the town centre as a business, residential, retail and leisure destination •To capitalise upon our unique assets – historic environment, connectivity, skills, attractive neighbourhoods•To ensure sustainable economic growth

Role of the Council

• Understanding market intelligence to bring forward deliverable, realistic yet ambitious plans;

• Taking an interventionist approach where necessary to do the work the market might previously have undertaken;

• Pursuing new approaches to funding;• Exploring how we can help businesses and other

organisations survive and thrive.• Taking (managed) risks…..

TOWN CENTRE

• Stockport Exchange – office- led scheme including new 1000-spaces MSCP plus 400,000sq.ft. of commercial floorspace, hotel, gym, parking and new public realm

• Phase 1 now underway – demolition, car park (open Feb 14) and A6 highway works

• Council funding (up to £20m) approved for Phase 2 - hotel, offices and new public realm around station; to start on site in late 2014

STOCKPORT EXCHANGE - MASTERPLAN

TOWN CENTRE

• Bridgefield – £43m borrowing approved by Executive to deliver a leisure led scheme to complement Merseyway and boost evening economy

• Includes a nine-screen cinema, food and drink outlets, shops and a new 400-space multi-storey car park; also refurbishment of the existing Debenhams store

• A cinema operator and food and drink outlets will be secured before the Council progresses the plans

• Start on site scheduled for 2015

TOWN CENTRE

• Market & Underbanks – Working with business, organisations, agents and owners to foster and cluster creative industry and specialist / independent retail activity;

• Use of Council property ownerships and potential purchases/leases to assist this e.g. MMU to open studios/ business incubation space here this year; vintage goods market hall proposal

• Work underway to improve quality and diversity of the Market offer

HOUSINGBackground•popular place to live – significant owner occupation (78%), •high property prices•housing need – houses sell•challenges re choice of tenure/type in certain  areas and availability/deliverability of sites•cross party support for more housing, more affordable housing choice, and for increasing the role of the Council as ‘facilitator’

HOUSINGWhat we’re doing•Working closely with registered providers within the Stockport Housing Partnership and the Homes & Community Agency•Working to support and assist private developers at key sites such as Dialstone, Heaton Moor, and Woodford•Where possible, securing affordable housing as part of wider mixed tenure development

WoodfordJoint venture between Avro Heritage Ltd and Harrow Estates/Redrow

Hybrid planning application submitted including outline for 805 dwellings & 90,000 sq ft commercial floorspace, primary school and open spaces.

Full planning permission submitted for 145 dwellings & associated infrastructure.

Discussions ongoing regarding affordable housing & transport

BrinningtonRegeneration Plan approved April ’13 focusing on housing & new leisure facilities.

Countryside Properties secured as development partner

Planning application to be submitted in early 2014 for approx 295 new homes across 4 sites and new leisure centre.

Work on leisure centre due to start Summer ’14, opening Summer’15. first homes due for completion

Spring ‘16

Convent Garden/ Hopes Carr

Phase 1 – 46 apartments for social rent completed and fully occupied.

Phase 2 – ID4 Living (Seddon). 41 houses for open market sale due to start on site February ‘14.

Phases 3 and 4 – Preferred developer appointed – Eric Wright/Your Housing 114 apartments/ houses for open market sale/private rent/shared ownership

HOUSINGKey challenges•Bring more empty properties back into use•Site identification/feasibility work – we need more deliverable sites in sustainable locations•Seek to identify ‘blockages’ and develop delivery proposals•Bring forward sites through work with owners, land assembly, possible change in planning status, and compulsory purchase if required•Consider proposals in the round – inc. financial implications (Council Tax, New Homes Bonus) but also wider service impacts•Take account of what’s going on around us – and co-operate…