'No affordable homes' in plan for new flats

Plans to build a block of flats in Greater Manchester have attracted controversy after it was revealed none of them would be "affordable".

Proposals by Manchester-based firm Promised Way Ltd would see a Grade II-listed engine house in Stockport turned into two properties, as well as building a block of 52 apartments on the land.

The scheme has been criticised by opposition councillors on Stockport Council, who said the application is an “incredibly frustrating” example of the lack of affordable homes in the borough.

Council officials said the "substantial" cost of the homes would make affordable housing unlikely.

'Feeling of despair'

Earlier this month, the company managing Stockport Council's properties revealed town residents face waits of up to 12 years for new council homes.

The town hall’s leadership has made the case for building new homes on brownfield land, and has plans to create 8,000 homes over the next 15 years.

At the Heatons and Reddish area committee on Monday, councillor Claire Vibert shared her frustration over Stockport’s housing problems.

She said: “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 application will be decided by the council’s planning committee and is recommended for approval by town hall officers.