Ask about revitalising Compstall Mills
Your questions
Q. Why are Ask bringing forward regeneration proposals for the Compstall Mills Estate?
A. The Stockport Unitary Development Plan (UDP) promotes the regeneration of the Estate as a high priority to deliver conservation, environmental, recreational and sustainable development benefits for the area.
Q. Why is the site identified for regeneration?
A. Regeneration is intended to address the historic decline of the Estate and to maximise its contribution to the village and wider area. The site retains a generally rundown appearance and sits in stark contrast to the quality of the surrounding environment. Many of the buildings lie derelict and are not fit for use. A sympathetic and sensitive regeneration proposal will bring the whole of the site back into active use and help to preserve the most significant historic mill buildings for future generations to enjoy.
Q. What are Ask proposing to do with the site?
A. We are proposing to deliver a high quality mixed-use regeneration scheme which is sensitive to the site’s location, meets the objectives of the Council’s UDP and delivers significant environmental improvements on the site. Our aim is to realise a scheme which respects and reflects the historic evolution of the mill complex while at the same time meeting the needs and aspirations of modern day life.
Q. What will the regeneration proposal involve?
A. Our proposal will involve the comprehensive regeneration of the Estate. It will be based around the sensitive reuse and improvement of historically significant and structurally stable buildings on the site, with new buildings introduced at appropriate locations within the site. We also want to create a high quality public realm and make the site more accessible to everyone.
Q. Are Ask proposing to demolish any of the existing buildings on the Estate?
A. We are carefully assessing the potential for restoration and reuse of each building but there needs to be a balance between the benefits and disbenefits of keeping certain buildings. Some buildings are beyond repair, while others could be restored but would have limited potential for reuse. Demolishing some buildings would help to open up the site, improve views to the more historically significant buildings and create greater potential to maximise the quality of the development.
Q. What new buildings are Ask proposing and where will they be located on the site?
A. Our aim is to realise a scheme which respects and reflects the historic evolution of the mill complex. In practice, this is likely to mean that any new buildings would reflect the location and scale of buildings currently or previously built on the site.
Q. What will the new and refurbished buildings look like?
A. It is too early to be specific at this stage as we are only in the early stages of putting together a detailed regeneration proposal for the Estate. However, we are looking to design high quality buildings which adopt contemporary design practices while recognising and being sensitive to the surroundings. Our emerging detailed design proposals will form a key component of further public consultation in the New Year.
Q. So why are Ask consulting now?
A. We wanted to make the local community aware of what we are doing and provide you all with an opportunity to comment on the regeneration proposal so that your views can inform our detailed work.
Q. What are the timescales going forward?
A. We will undertake further consultation on a detailed proposal, including architect’s drawings and a model of the proposed scheme, in the New Year. We will use the feedback from this second consultation to inform the preparation of a detailed planning application which we hope to submit in the Spring. It is likely that the planning application would then be determined by the Council in the Summer and, assuming this is approved, we would begin works on site by the end of 2008.
Q. What can I do to find out more and how can I make my views known?
A. If you have any further questions or wish to comment on our regeneration proposal, please feel free to contact Daniel Knight or William Wood at GKA on:
Telephone: 0161 602 3080
Email: compstallmill@gka.co.uk
Post: Compstall Mills Consultation, c/o GKA Limited, Peter House, Oxford Street, Manchester M1 5AN
You can also download a copy of the questions in PDF format here
