Brinnington regeneration

Master Plan

In 2008 we undertook a master planning exercise in Brinnington. At the time Brinnington was ranked in the top 2% most deprived areas in England and Wales in the 2007 Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD). Despite this the area did not qualify for neighbourhood renewal funding because of the overall affluence of Stockport at a borough-wide level.

Brinnington had benefited from a number of physical regeneration projects, but these were largely targeted at community and employment initiatives.

With our partners, we started to address this with:

  • the redevelopment of the original run down shopping area, Top Shops
  • new community facilities
  • new shared ownership housing
  • improvements to the existing housing via the Decent Homes programme

This increased optimism in the area.

We wanted to capitalise on this and to continue to regenerate the area though a comprehensive strategy that would continue to bring about benefits for the whole community.

With this objective in mind, we procured and commissioned a master plan from planning consultants, GVA Grimley. The brief sought to:

  • bring together relevant social, economic, environmental and land use issues to build a consensus about the future vision and shape of the neighbourhood
  • identify realistic and deliverable priorities for action
  • create opportunities that would allow a mixed and balanced community to evolve in Brinnington. This would result in a vibrant, sustainable neighbourhood which related positively and connected well with the rest of Stockport and beyond

The brief for the consultants was to:

  • develop a clear vision for the physical regeneration of Brinnington, which had the support of the local community and key stakeholders
  • provide a clear way forward to facilitate the sustainable and high quality regeneration of Brinnington
  • prepare a robust delivery strategy with projects that could be phased and realised within the overall vision
  • include a requirement for the consultants to follow the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE) master planning guidance

After extensive consultation, the final master plan was adopted as the regeneration strategy for Brinnington.

Key findings of the master plan

Housing

Limited choice of housing in the area. Those residents that benefitted from social intervention and became successful, tended to move out of the area. The type and tenure of the housing options available was limited to mainly social, rented, smaller terraced properties and walk up/high rise flats.

In 2013 we procured Countryside Properties, to help us develop new family housing across several sites in Brinnington. Planning applications were drawn up and planning consent was secured for 281 new family homes. Countryside Properties submitted their planning application in 2014. This included a robust regeneration statement in support of the application as 2 main sites lay within the green belt, with one also in Reddish Vale Country Park.

Health of local residents

The poor health of local residents and the limited use of existing, poor quality, sports facilities in the area (housed within part of a former secondary school). Along with Countryside’s planning submission, we submitted plans for a new, high quality, replacement sport and leisure facility. The application, which was directly linked to the proposed new housing, included:

  • a multi use sports hall
  • gym
  • boxing ring
  • dance studio
  • community room
  • outside all weather ‘astro turf’ pitches
  • new, relocated bowling green facility at a secondary site off Brinnington Road

Both planning applications were approved by the Planning and Highways Committee in 2015.

To facilitate these proposals, we relocated Castle Hill School, from within the local secondary school, to a newly refurbished facility, located in a central accessible location in the borough.

Construction and completion

Countryside Properties began construction of the new family homes in 2016. They were completed in early Autumn 2020, well ahead of the original planned 8 year programme. Sales took place at a much higher rate than expected and many of the houses were sold off plan. These new family homes represent a £33m investment in Brinnington.

The new sports and leisure facilities were completed by Wilmot Dixon and opened in March 2018. The facilities represent a £7m+ investment by the council. There has been a significant increase in both local and wider use of the new facilities, compared to the old centre.

With our partners, we've also carried out other complimentary projects in the area including:

  • 2010: the construction of 17 new homes for social rent at Lantern Close by the Stockport Homes Group (SHG). SHG are our Arm’s Length Management Organisation (ALMO) responsible for managing our former council housing stock
  • 2011: new play facilities across Brinnington and improvements to the public areas at First House. This was funded with £350,000 of Play Builder money
  • 2012: the construction of 8 new shared ownership 3 bedroom homes on Blackberry Lane, the former site of Tame Valley primary School

Brinnington Royal Town Planning Institute Award

The Blackberry Vale scheme, which forms part of the regeneration of Brinnington, was awarded category winner for ‘Regeneration’ at the RTPI Awards in 2019.