Dialstone Lane, Stockport
Welcome
Stockport Grammar School has selected Story Homes to develop proposals for a high quality, environmentally sustainable residential development on the site of its former playing fields at Dialstone Lane.
Owned by Stockport Grammar School, the fields were previously used by the school for playing sports. However, due to numerous issues including safeguarding challenges and a lack of facilities, the fields have not been in use for over seven years.
We now believe we have found a way to revive the land to ensure it makes a positive contribution to the community.
Our proposals include plans to deliver 112 high quality homes, including 50% affordable housing, which will contribute positively towards meeting Stockport’s recognised housing need. As part of the plans, there will also be public open space for the enjoyment of existing and prospective residents.
While these plans are still taking shape, we want to hear your views on our proposals.
About Story Homes
Story Homes has over 35 years’ experience in developing and building high quality homes across England and Scotland with a notable presence in the North West of England. Story Homes’ commitment to building high quality homes has been demonstrated successfully by residential developments across the North West, as well a new developments currently under construction in Wilmslow.
About Stockport
Grammar School
Founded in 1487, Stockport Grammar School (SGS) is one of the oldest independent schools in the country and moved to its current site on Buxton Road in 1916. We are committed to continually investing in the school to ensure we can provide an excellent environment for our pupils and widen access to our bursary programme.
A school at the heart of the community
Stockport Grammar School has a long and distinguished history. One of the oldest independent schools in the country, it was founded by Sir Edmond Shaa in 1487. Born and bred in Stockport, he rose to dazzling national influence as the Court Jeweller to three kings of England, Prime Warden of The Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and Lord Mayor of London.
Through five centuries, generations of local children have benefited from his foresight in establishing a school for Stockport. Now one of the largest co-educational independent schools in the country, SGS is a happy, diverse and inclusive community with 1,500 children from ages 3 to 19. SGS has a national reputation for academic excellence and an exceptional range of co-curricular activities, equipping children with life skills and confidence to thrive beyond school.
The Bursary Programme
Stockport Grammar School is a not-for-profit educational charity and does not have significant historical funds. However, we are determined to raise funds to expand our Bursary Programme and widen opportunities for local children.
The Bursary Programme pays for places at SGS for local Stockport children who have the ability and potential to thrive within our school community but whose parents cannot afford the fees. Families in the greatest financial need are prioritised and the opportunities are life-changing. Our aim is to build a sufficient bursary fund so that there is no financial barrier to joining SGS for any child from Stockport. We take great pride in the achievements of our former bursary holders and the contributions they make to their communities locally, nationally and internationally.
Funds from the housing development at Dialstone Lane will be used to support children in our Bursary Programme.
Our place in the community
We are proud of our place in Stockport’s history, present and future, and of our support for the wider Stockport community. In accordance with our charitable aims, our primary focus is on projects that benefit the education of children and funds will be used to upgrade facilities at the school.
We offer a wide variety of activities to the wider community such as providing swimming lessons to over 700 local children in our pool every week to providing theatre workshops in local primary schools. A selection of our community activities is listed on our website at www.stockportgrammar.co.uk.
The site
Located on Dialstone Lane between Brooklyn Road and Hornbeam Close, the fields are owned by Stockport Grammar School and have not been in active use for over seven years.
As part of the school’s estate management strategy, the former playing fields at Dialstone Lane have been identified as being surplus to requirements.
The distance of these fields from the main school premises presents significant challenges to their use, particularly in terms of safeguarding. There is also a lack of quality facilities and parking on site. As a result of these challenges, the fields have not been used by the school for over seven years.
The school also privately owns the site, which is enclosed by fencing and is not open to the public. The site represents an excellent opportunity for a community of new homes because it is located within the main urban area of Stockport, close to a range of local amenities and within easy reach of both public transport links and the local road network.
Our proposals
Previously used by Stockport Grammar School for playing sport, the fields haven’t been played on for several years. Rather than remaining unused, the school has been exploring options to give the site a new future.
Our proposals look to deliver 112 units and provide a mix of one, two, three, four and five bedroom homes ranging from 2 and 2.5 storey houses and 3 storey apartment buildings delivering a range of apartments, terraced, semi-detached and detached houses.
The plans include a local play area to the northern part of the site and an open green space to the southern side of the site. The scheme also seeks to retain the majority of the existing hedgerow and trees with additional planting proposed within the site.
Homes for everyone
The scheme has been designed to deliver a range of high-quality homes suitable for every stage of life from first time buyers, growing families, and residents looking to downsize. There will be:
12 one bedroom homes
38 two bedroom homes
23 three bedroom homes
27 four bedroom homes
12 five bedroom homes
The new homes would be set within a green and leafy development which would support local wildlife and biodiversity and provide new green spaces for both current and future residents to enjoy. The development will also help to alleviate pressure on Stockport’s Green Belt.
The proceeds of a sale would be invested in modernising Stockport Grammar School’s existing facilities as well as significantly boosting the school’s bursary programme, thereby expanding educational opportunities for local children for decades to come.
Working with Story Homes, the new proposals include plans to deliver 112 high quality homes - including 50% affordable housing - which would contribute towards meeting Stockport’s recognised housing need. There will be a mix of housing types and sizes as well as a mix of tenure types in affordable housing.
Design approach
By building new homes on the Dialstone Lane site, we can help to meet the need for more high-quality new homes in Stockport. We’re excited to share our vision for a vibrant and welcoming residential neighbourhood:
In bringing the Dialstone Lane fields site back into active use, we have the opportunity to improve the overall appearance of the site, create attractive new routes and encourage wildlife.
This spacious new neighbourhood has been designed to create a peaceful environment for residents, which promotes healthy living and wellbeing.
At its heart, we envisage a beautiful neighbourhood of modern and high-quality homes, set within landscaped grounds and extensive open spaces.
Key features include:
Large open spaces with areas for play, relaxation, and wellbeing.
Landscaped streets throughout the development, planted with flower beds, new trees, and shrubbery.
Retain and enhance the majority of existing trees and hedgerows along the site boundaries.
Wildlife corridors.
A network of new footpaths and cycle paths will connect the neighbourhood and improve connectivity with the local community.
Have your say
As part of the consultation, we held two in-person drop-in session open to all. This session was an opportunity to learn more about the proposals, talk to project team members, and provide feedback on our plans.
Drop-in events
The public consultation on our proposals for Dialstone Lane closed on Monday 5 February 2024.
The project team will consider all of the feedback received before finalising the proposals and submitting a planning application.