There are fears a popular Stockport park could miss out on the £1m it should be getting due to ‘viability’ issues
The landmark scheme could transform part of the town centre.
There are fears a Stockport park could miss out on £1m of funding from a major development to build new homes nearby.
A landmark project known as Stockport 8 aims to build 1,300 new homes in the town centre to the west of the viaduct.
This would regenerate a massive swathe of mostly industrial land, in a £250m scheme led by English Cities Fund (ECF) working alongside Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation and Stockport council.
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The plans are set to be approved by Stockport council next week during a meeting at the town hall.
However, concerns have been raised about whether any money will be invested in the nearby Hollywood Park in Edgeley, a green space surrounded by existing housing.
A report on Stockport 8 from the council states that around £1m should be spent on new provision and maintenance.
But the report also states that the proposals on the table are ‘in conflict’ with the requirements due to ‘viability reasons ‘ – in other words, the money will not be coming at this stage.
Hollywood Park in Edgeley.
Edgeley councillor Matt Wynne called for more details to be shared about whether any improvements will be made to green spaces in the area if the new homes are approved.
He added: “We are supportive of the regeneration programme in town centre west and welcome the mix of housing promised, but there has to be transparency for the people we represent about where the necessary improvements to social infrastructure such as our greenspaces is going to come from.
“There has to be a strategy now given over a £1m was determined by the planning department to be necessary planning contributions for the new influx of population, but not a penny will be forthcoming over viability grounds.”
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It is understood that Stockport council wants to secure a clawback mechanism if the plans are approved – meaning there’s a chance money could be put towards infrastructure and housing improvements if the scheme does well financially.
The wider vision for the regeneration of Stockport town centre includes improving parks, travel options, access to services for residents.
This is also set to include new green public spaces as part of the Stockport 8 development if the plans are approved next week.
ECF was approached for comment.