Stockport Character and Urban Density (SCUD) study

Romiley District Centre

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

Romiley District Centre has a linear high street. It's made up mostly of smaller buildings, but also has large buildings of late 20th century developments, including Romiley Precinct.

The centre has grown along Compstall Road and Stockport Road, benefiting from the presence of the railway station. It's made up of a mix of building types, which includes local retail, community, and food and beverage. Church Lane Conservation Area includes at least half of the district centre.

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

• a vibrant high street
• a good central area
• a historic junction and station arrival
• green spaces and a leafy green character
• open views into the countryside

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

• inactive gateways
• a lack of public open space
• low-quality street surfaces
• outdated shopping units

Consultation

A stakeholder consultation took place on 25 September 2023 at the Marple Senior Citizens Hall. The consultation focused on the existing positive characteristics and opportunities for change. The key findings from this event were that:

• there’s potential for reuse of existing heritage buildings
• Romiley precinct has structural issues, and there’s potential to rebuild and redefine the site as an enhanced community destination
• there’s opportunity to enhance existing recreational facilities
• Tangshut Fields and Chadkirk Estate should be protected for people and nature
• there’s a need to bring nature and diversity into the district centre
• there’s a need to provide better pedestrian connections across Compstall Road and Stockport Road

Potential for change

A relatively large number of homes exist within the district centre boundary, which suggests that it’s already quite well equipped for residential use. However, there are opportunities in the surrounding industrial areas to support further residential growth in Romiley and improve existing low-quality buildings along the high street.

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

• increase density and height of up to 4 storeys within small, empty sites and gateways into Romiley, where there’s more space between buildings in the district centre
• include taller buildings of up to 5 storeys, which would be appropriate where a landmark building can provide a focal point
• include taller buildings where there are significant changes in the topography (e.g. along the Peak Forest Canal), as the landscape will minimise the visual impact of buildings

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 Romiley. 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 190 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 7 stories while still fitting within the look and feel of the area. The study recommends that 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:

• enhancing the central community point in Romiley
• enhancing local heritage assets, including Romiley Board Mill/Oakwood Mill
• providing key connections across the district centre
• creating and enhancing connections to surrounding green features

Future development which increases scale and density in Romiley 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 Romiley and The Peak Forest Canal Conservation Area identified in the character appraisal set out within the report
• delivering high-quality, contemporary development that fits with the distinctive architectural features within the area
• contributing to the active high street with development proposals of ground floor uses
• enhancing the pedestrian environment along the high street, and providing safe and attractive crossings

Overall, the study concludes that there's opportunity to deliver sustainable living within Romiley 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.