Dozens of ‘affordable’ new flats are to be built on a former car wash site in Stockport after planners gave the go-ahead for the scheme. It means a pair of adjoining blocks housing 73 apartments will go up on disused land at King Street West - part of the much-vaunted ‘Town Centre West’ regeneration zone, or ‘MDC’.
Brought forward by housing association Great Places the ‘high quality’ scheme appears to be 100pc affordable - with all the one and two-bedroom homes available through the government-backed Rent to Buy scheme. However, after five years tenants have the opportunity to purchase their apartment outright, or can increase their share in it over a longer period of time via a process known as ‘staircasing’.
Coun Andy Sorton - who has previously raised concerns over affordable housing ‘disappearing’ from the site - again brought up the issue at a meeting of the council’s planning committee. While he said this was not grounds for rejecting the application - as 100pc affordable housing goes well beyond council requirements - he stressed the need for long-term affordable housing in the town centre.
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