Plans have been submitted to Stockport council that would see the 1970s St Christopher's House demolished and replaced with 277 flats just outside the town centre.
Cheshire Homes Group has put forward a regeneration scheme for the site at the junction of Wellington Road South and Longshut Lane. The proposals describe the replacement as 'a high-quality residential development inspired by traditional mansion block architecture', with a mix of one, two and three-bed apartments available to rent.
Site History and Current Plans
St Christopher's House, a 10-storey white office block, most recently housed insurance firm Vitality. The company has since moved to Stockport Exchange, a business-focused regeneration district near the town's railway station.
Cheshire Homes Group, a Manchester-based developer founded in 1995, said it plans to keep the new building as a long-term investment. A press release from the firm said: "The scheme's design responds to its prominent location, incorporating a landmark corner building at the junction of Wellington Road South and Longshut Lane, with the building heights stepping down towards neighbouring terraced properties."
The release added: "The proposals also include improvements to the surrounding public realm, with wider pavements and new tree planting along Wellington Road South and Longshut Lane. At the heart of the development will be landscaped communal courtyard gardens, with ground-floor apartments benefiting from private patios."
Developer and Local Context
Azeem Ali, director of Cheshire Homes Group, said: "We are pleased to have formally submitted our planning application for this important site in Stockport. We have worked closely with our design and planning team to bring forward a scheme that we believe will make a positive contribution to the area, both through the quality of its architecture and the new homes it will provide."
Ali added: "Stockport is undergoing significant regeneration, and we see this development as an opportunity to invest in the town's long-term future. Our intention is to retain and manage the completed apartments, providing high-quality rental accommodation as part of our growing residential portfolio."
The move by Vitality out of St Christopher's House earlier this year was hailed as a vote of confidence in the wider regeneration of Stockport town centre, with hopes that over £2bn could be invested in the town in the coming years.
Vitality's move is the largest office letting ever secured at Stockport Exchange, increasing the number of people working in the area to over 2,000. Luke McClaran, chief people officer at Vitality, said: "We're proud to be deepening our roots in Stockport and look forward to continuing to play an active role in supporting the town's growth and success in the years ahead."
