28 affordable apartments at Astra House, Poynton, Stockport

What was proposed

The application proposed demolishing an office building and constructing 28 affordable apartments with landscaping and parking.

“Astra House, Spinners Lane, Poynton, SK12 1GA Proposal: Demolition of office building and construction of 28 affordable apartments with associated landscaping and parking Applicant: [the applicant] Date: 26 June 2026”

“The application proposals seek planning permission for the demolition of an office building and its replacement with the construction of 28 affordable apartments with associated landscaping and parking.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site contains offices, parking and green space beside the railway station, in a mainly residential area near public transport and town-centre facilities.

“The 0.3ha site consists of the purpose-built offices at Astra House, car parking to the north and green space to the south. Access is from Spinners Lane, a no- through road off Chester Road. This also serves two 3-storey apartment blocks managed by Sanctuary Housing Association opposite the site, and Deva Close play area with sport pitches and skate park.”

“To the east and west are residential properties, including the apartments off Spinners Lane and semi-detached properties fronting Chester Road. 90-92 Chester Road is also in ownership of the applicant, and this property is vacant but was last used as additional office space. There are semi-detached properties to the east beyond Poynton railway station along Wayside Drive.”

Officer report

Earlier applications

A previous 32-apartment application was withdrawn, while prior approval exists for converting Astra House to open-market residential apartments.

“22/0104M: Demolition of existing office building and construction of 32 apartments with associated landscaping and parking. This application was withdrawn in February 2023.”

“20/3302M: There is already an established prior approval for conversion of Astra House to open market residential apartments. This was to allow the conversion to commence if the current proposed affordable housing scheme is not approved.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because affordable housing benefits in a sustainable location outweighed employment-site loss and a small parking shortfall.

“The proposed development would conflict with the development plan with regards to the loss of employment sites (Policy EG3). This is because it has not been evidenced as part of the submission that the site is either causing nuisance or is no longer suitable for continuing or alternative employment uses as required by policy.”

“Whilst this application proposes a shortfall in parking spaces, the shortfall is not significant and the site’s good accessibility means that car ownership maybe lower than in other, less sustainable locations. Overall, the car parking shortfall is small and in the context of the scheme as a whole, attracts limited weight in terms of harm.”

Officer report

Residents’ representations

The application was advertised through neighbour letters and a site notice, but no representation letters were received.

“The application has been duly advertised by means of direct neighbour notification letters and site notice.”

“No letters of representations have been received.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The agent attended and spoke in relation to the application.

The committee’s decision

The committee approved the application for the reasons in the report, subject to conditions and a Section 106 agreement.

“Members noted the content of the update report.”

“That for the reasons set out in the report the application be APPROVED subject to conditions and Section 106 Agreement as detailed below;”

Minutes