Stockport Character and Urban Density (SCUD) study

Edgeley District Centre

This webpage provides a summary of the Edgeley District Centre report.

The district centre is characterised by its historic high street, Castle Street, lined with traditional Victorian terraced buildings hosting various businesses.

Modern empty structures with larger footprints and flat roofs disrupt the historic layout and character of the area.

There are varied materials and building heights, but the consistent building line and lack of focal point means there’s a formal rectangular block structure along Castle Street. This affects pedestrian activity due to narrow pavements and on-street parking.

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

• the area’s historic layout, scale and character
• a variety of complementary materials
• the pedestrianised environment at Castle Street

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

• low quality facades, render and shutters
• low quality public spaces
• the dominance of vehicles in public spaces
• low quality, undeveloped retail spaces

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:

• the Co-op site is central but needs redevelopment due to poor quality
• the high street lacks variety in uses and facilities
• there’s a long-term desire to fully pedestrianise Castle Street according to stakeholders
• busy roads like Mercian Way and King Street West create barriers and there’s a need to improve pedestrian crossings
• there are opportunities to improve public spaces along the high street

Potential for change

There are many homes in Edgeley District Centre, most of them are apartments in the upper floors of shops, in either converted historic terraces or modern development. There are also some terraced houses within the area.

Edgeley has a consistent building height of 2 storeys, with some buildings rising to 3 storeys at corners of the high street. Some taller apartment buildings located to the northwest of the district centre go up to 10 storeys. This is uncharacteristic of the area, and the low-quality design detracts from the historic character of Edgeley.

Given this, the study identifies the potential to:

• increase density and height up to 3 storeys within the high street
• increase height up to 5 storeys in some areas of the high street, setting back the building line to create a local landmark

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 in Edgeley. 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 number of homes that these sites could hold. This is between 80 to 170 dph (dwellings per hectare).

Along the high street, the most appropriate building height is around 3 storeys. On some sites, buildings could reach up to 5 stories while still fitting within the look and feel of the area. The study recommends that terraces, town houses and apartments are the most suitable housing type for these areas.

Priorities for change

Through analysing the area, and consulting key stakeholders, the study identifies 4 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:

• creating a new focal point along Castle Street
• enhancing public spaces along Castle Street
• creating space for a broader mix of uses and community facilities
• enhancing the sense of arrival to the district centre

Future development which increases scale and density in Edgeley District Centre must be designed sensitively and holistically. It should respond to the existing townscape within and around the district centre.

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

• enhancing the existing positive characteristics of Edgeley District Centre as identified in the character appraisal set out within the report
• contributing to the varied, stepped roofscape along the high street
• enhancing the pedestrian environment along the high street and surrounding areas
• making sure ground-floor buildings have active frontages and overlook public spaces
• setting back upper floors above 3 storeys, prioritising the privacy of homes

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