Stockport Character and Urban Density (SCUD) study

Heald Green Large Local Centre

This webpage provides a summary of the Heald Green Large Local Centre report.

Heald Green Large Local Centre is a linear high street along Finney Lane, featuring a mix of shops, cafés, restaurants, with some apartments above. There's a mix of traditional and modern development.

The area is primarily residential beyond the high street, influenced significantly by its proximity to the airport. The design of the high street presents generous pavements and planting. However, there are limited pedestrian crossings and low-quality pavements, detracting from the area's sense of place.

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 variation in roofscape
• a varied high street
• active ground floors
• proximity to the railway station
• greenery within the streets

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

• a poor sense of arrival
• low-quality pavements and surfaces

Consultation

A stakeholder consultation took place on 14 September 2023 at The Upper Room, Cheadle. The consultation focused on the existing positive characteristics and opportunities for change. The key findings from this event were that:

• there's opportunity to improve active travel connections
• small, existing green spaces and street furniture (for example, public seating) are underused
• local facilities are important but need upgrading
• the main local centre provides essential services but has outdated buildings that need improvement
• clutter and parking issues reduce space for pedestrians and negatively impact their experience in the main centre
• pavements in the main centre are low-quality; safer streets for pedestrians are needed
• the railway station is poorly maintained with narrow, bad-quality footpaths
• the green character of Heald Green should be preserved
• there’s opportunity to improve the village hall and connections to key places in Heald Green

Potential for change

Heald Green Large Local Centre has few residential properties. This is due to single use, retail buildings within the area with only a few residential apartments above shops.

The surrounding areas mainly consist of residential dwellings, and are made up of detached and semi-detached homes which in some instances are apartment buildings.

Generally, building heights in Heald Green are low-rise. They are typically up to 2 and a half storeys in height. However, there are buildings of up to 3 to 4 storeys in some locations. Given this, the study identifies the potential to:

• increase density and height of up to 6 storeys at key movement corridors, where the visual impact of buildings can be reduced by existing trees
• include taller buildings of up to 5 storeys at appropriate places such as the railway station, announcing the arrival into Heald Green

The Safeguarding Zone for Manchester Airport requires prior consultation for buildings and structures over 15 meters in the eastern part of Heald Green, and for all development within the large local centre and around the railway station.

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 Heald Green. 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 100 to 200 dph (dwellings per hectare).

The most appropriate building height around the railway station is 3 to 5 storeys. On some sites, buildings could reach up to 6 stories where their visual impact would be reduced by existing trees. The study recommends that apartments and town houses 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:

• creating a vibrant high street
• improving connectivity through Heald Green
• improving the sense of arrival at the railway station

Future development which increases scale and density in Heald Green Large Local 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 Heald Green's positive features from the townscape character appraisal
• using high-quality, contemporary designs that reflect local architectural features without copying historical styles
• creating varied and interesting façades, maintaining the rhythm of the street
• contributing to the diverse roofscape with a mix of traditional and modern features
• making sure ground-floor buildings have active frontages, avoiding inactive façades
• preserving and integrating existing natural features in new developments

Overall, the study concludes that there's opportunity to deliver sustainable living within Heald Green Large Local 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.