The Arboriculture Team have been working with WSP Indigo and their client Investar alongside other specialists on a redevelopment scheme within Stockport town centre. The team have undertaken a baseline BS 5837 tree survey of the campus site and prepared the Arboricultural Impact Assessment submitted as part of the planning application.

The project, to redevelop part of the Stockport College is part of a strategy to revamp education delivery will see a new mixed use-development called Royal George Village. Stockport College merged with Trafford College in 2019.

The joint application recently submitted to Stockport Council with the Trafford College Group, which operates the college, set out proposals for 442 apartments with car parking, start-up space, public realm and landscaping. As part of the proposals, the Hexagon lecture hall would be demolished and replaced with public realm and civic space intended “to enhance the setting of the grade two-listed War Memorial Art Gallery and former Metropolitan Girls’ School.

Subject to planning approval, Investar plans to start work on site in early 2021 and the full development is targeted to complete by the end of 2024.

Alongside continued redevelopment of Stockport College, the redevelopment will not only provide an education campus within the town but Royal George Village is set to create a “thriving residential and commercial hub that will serve the community of Stockport for years to come”.

The design of the proposals has retained the high-quality existing tree cover thereby ensuring continuation of local visual amenity. New visual amenity will be created through tree planting as part of the supporting landscaping proposals to create an attractive environment which is visually pleasing and complements the development.

The grade two-listed Greek Building, left, and, the proposed Gateway Building (Image: Investar)