Former police station will be transformed into new homes

New homes will be built on the site where Mottram Police Station once stood, it has been confirmed.

Before being knocked down in 2012, the site off Back Lane had fallen to rack and ruin.

Now Onward Homes will build 14 houses on the vacant space.

The developer says all the new three-bedroom homes will be high-quality and affordable.

Once built, the homes will be available for either affordable rent, rent-to-buy or shared ownership, to help meet identified housing needs in the local area. But the big sticking point for locals was the parking provision – with just 15 spaces included in the proposal.

Tim Jackson, speaking against the scheme at the latest planning panel meeting in Droylsden, said: “To assume 14, three-bedroom houses won’t need more than one car is naive. 

“The parking situation in Mottram is currently massively oversubscribed. When I get home from work I have to find a parking space elsewhere from outside my home. 

“Any increase of vehicles could make that much worse.”

Mr Jackson went on to share local concerns that side streets could become rat runs; homes may get overlooked; house prices could fall; valuable green space could be lost; and disruption could impact neighbours during construction.

Carl Grannell, representing the applicants at the meeting in Guardsman Tony Downes House, explained the original plan did cater for 20 parking spaces, but that had been reduced following consultation with the council’s planning officers. This was because they were going above the minimum required need for parking spaces, the meeting was told.

That extra space is now occupied by greenery and landscaping on the development. The panel unanimously approved the proposal on Wednesday, May 28.

CGI of how the transformation of the former Mottram police station could look. Credit: Onward Homes.