Stockport Character and Urban Density (SCUD) study

A6 Corridor North

This webpage provides a summary of the A6 Corridor North report.

The corridor study area has many neighbourhoods, from bustling mixed-use areas to quieter residential zones. The northern part features traditional residential buildings and the southern area includes modern warehouses and offices.

Some key historic buildings on the corridor include:

• the McVitie's Biscuit Works
• the former London and North Western Railway Goods Warehouse
• Christ Church

High traffic volumes and poorly designed pavements detract from the pedestrian experience.

There are a number of positive characteristics in the area that should be retained and enhanced through the design of new development. These include:

• green boundaries
• ground floor active frontages
• characterful and heritage buildings

There are negative characteristics which should be improved through the design of new development. These include:

• inactive gateways
• high volumes of traffic
• lack of spaces for people to spend time in

Consultation

A stakeholder consultation took place on 12 September 2023 at Edgeley Park. The consultation focused on the existing positive characteristics and opportunities for change. The key findings from this event were that:

• there's a lot of vehicular traffic and congestion in the corridor, contributing to noise and air pollution
• there are poor conditions for pedestrians and cyclists, leading to safety concerns
• new development should feature active frontages to enhance public spaces and the pedestrian experience
• there’s a need to incorporate greenery and planting and street furniture to enhance the environment along the corridor
• there’s a need to promote organic placemaking initiative, and support existing community assets and local organisations
• there's development towards active travel, public transport and sustainable development

Potential for change

There are a few large residential developments along the corridor. These are located on the residential streets off the corridor and are typically terraces, semi-detached houses and some apartment blocks. There are also some examples of apartment development within the corridor.

Generally, building heights along the corridor are low-rise. They are typically up to 2 to 3 storeys in height. Some heritage buildings are taller, typically between 2 to 5 storeys. Closer to the entrance to Stockport Town Centre there are buildings over 8 storeys high. Given this, the study identifies the potential to:

• increase density and height up to 4 storeys within small, empty sites where there’s more space between buildings
• increase height up to 6 storeys along the corridor at junctions that create urban nodes (key focal points); this will open up more opportunities for placemaking
• increase height up to 7 storeys at gateways into Stockport Borough and Town Centre

The study provides further character analysis of select sites within the areas. These sites have been identified as having the potential for positive change and wider public benefits along the A6 Corridor North. These sites have been chosen because of their:

• location
• size
• sensitivity
• capacity to incorporate development of increased scale and density

The study illustrates what could potentially be achieved on these types of sites and within their wider area. Planning permission is still required for all sites included. This study does not permit or propose specific development.

By analysing these areas from a design perspective, the study estimates the amount of homes that these sites could hold. This is between 100 to 400 dph (dwellings per hectare).

Along the corridor, the most appropriate building height is 4 storeys and up to 7 storeys at the gateway to the town centre. The study recommends that apartments are the most suitable housing type for these areas.

Priorities for change

Through analysing the area, and consulting key stakeholders, the study identifies 3 placemaking priorities. Placemaking is the process used to shape public spaces and buildings, to create places where people want to live, work and visit. It should be rooted in a strong understanding of the character of the area and involvement from the local community.

The placemaking priorities should guide future development in the area. These are:

• supporting the local community
• a network of green spaces
• a green, safe and sustainable corridor

Future development which increases scale and density in the A6 Corridor North must be designed sensitively and holistically. It should respond to the existing townscape along the corridor and within the identified surrounding neighbourhoods.

As such, the study recommends design guidance to take into consideration through the design of new development. This includes:

• enhancing the existing positive characteristics along the corridor and within the surrounding neighbourhoods, as identified in the report
• contributing to the rich, stepped roofscape along the corridor
• enhancing the pedestrian environment along the corridor
• making sure that the design of taller development prioritises the pedestrian environment at street level
• creating appropriate boundaries between the corridor and new development to protect the privacy of homes, and to improve the relationship of the building with the street (by allowing doors and windows to open onto the street in a practical way)

Overall, the study concludes that there's opportunity to deliver sustainable living within A6 Corridor North. New residential development should respond to local housing needs. The study shows that this can be achieved through sensitively increasing building heights and densities.