Proposed Stockport Flats Project Lacks Affordable Housing

A proposed residential development in Greater Manchester has drawn criticism because none of the planned units are designated as “affordable.” The proposals, submitted by Manchester-based firm Promised Way Ltd, involve converting a Grade II-listed engine house in Stockport into two residences and constructing a new block containing 52 apartments on the same site. Opposition councillors on Stockport Council have voiced objections to the scheme, characterizing the application as an “incredibly frustrating” illustration of the shortage of affordable housing within the borough. According to council officials, the “substantial” expenses associated with these homes suggest that providing affordable housing units would be improbable. Earlier in the current month, the entity responsible for managing Stockport Council’s properties disclosed that residents in the town could anticipate waiting periods of up to 12 years for new council housing. The leadership of the town hall has advocated for the construction of new residences on brownfield sites, with an objective to develop 8,000 homes during the upcoming 15 years. During the Heatons and Reddish area committee meeting held on Monday, Councillor Claire Vibert expressed her dissatisfaction regarding the housing challenges in Stockport. She stated: “We’ve got a relatively large application here and there’s no affordable housing proposed within it.“It’s a feeling of despair really that we’re in the situation that we’re in, with the housing crisis that we’ve seen reported in the press in our borough, and we’re looking at an application here that isn’t going to meet the needs of Stockport’s residents.” The council’s planning committee is scheduled to make a decision on the application, which has received a recommendation for approval from town hall officers.