Marple Active Community Hub & Marple Area Transport

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People living nearby should not be adversely affected

Every effort has been made to ensure the living conditions of residents living close to the Site are not adversely affected by the Marpe Community Hub project.

The design of the Hub has been informed by a range of technical assessments including highways, noise, air quality, ground conditions, and drainage assessments. All technical assessments undertaken will be submitted as part of the planning application submission and will be publicly accessible via Stockport Council’s planning register.

In addition, the construction of the new Hub will also be managed by a Construction Environment Management Plan to minimise any disruption. The Construction Environment Management Plan will include measures such as hours of working, delivery hours, construction traffic routes, dust mitigation measures, and site management contact details.

The range of facilities proposed at the hub were positive

Kept the range of facilities in the scheme.

There should be a greater amount of on-site car parking

The design team are continuing to review the area available for car parking and drive further efficiencies out of this space, to ensure that as many car parking bays as possible are provided, without compromising pedestrian and other park users safety.

The level of car parking provision has also been informed by a commitment to making Stockport a greener place to live alongside measures to  improve pedestrian and surrounding highways which aim to enhance sustainability of the hub. Levelling Up funding has been secured for this and will include:

• Two new pedestrian crossing are proposed at Station Road.
• A new zebra crossing is proposed on Hollins Lane at the junction with the Asda car park to improve the crossing.
• A new signalised crossing is proposed on Stockport Road adjacent to Memorial Park Drive.
• At Memorial Park: the path from Station Road to Hollins House has been moved to fit around the Marple Community Hub site footprint; and the path from the canal to Hollins House and Memorial Park Drive is to be resurfaced and widened to become a shared cycle/walking route.
• Making it safer and easier to walk and cycle to the hub

Memorial Drive should be widened

The project team have looked closely at whether Memorial Drive could be widened. Detailed work identified that Memorial Drive would only be possible if mature trees were removed.

A significant number of consultation comments received requested the trees at Memorial Drive be kept.

So to balance both requests Memorial Drive is to be re-surfaced, and a new passing bay introduced to ensure that vehicular traffic can pass satisfactorily.

Retain trees, particularly on Station Road

The  proposed lay-by location on Station Road will not go ahead  and  trees on Station Road will remain in place.

Every effort has been made to keep as many trees at the site as possible and the  majority of trees will remain. However, some trees will need to be  removed to accommodate the new hub and the construction zones. For every tree removed three more will be planted.

Improve accessibility of health clinic

The clinic will be located on the first floor to make it more accessible. This change has also led to the removal of a floor from the building, reducing the overall number of floors proposed at the hub from three to two, however, maintaining the same amount of functional space.

There should be more sustainable features proposed

It has been a challenge  to make the Marple Community Hub, that includes a swimming pool as sustainable as possible. However, the new design now includes solar panels on the roof and a greater number of electric vehicle charging points means that the hub will be Net Zero Carbon in operation. The proposed hub will also have a new habitat created for wildlife resulting in   a 10% net gain in biodiversity.

The pool spectator area should not be accessed through the changing rooms

 Access to the pool spectator area will now be via the relocated café area.

Toilets to be available to all not just users of leisure centre

The new design has public toilets  located at the entrance lobby and will be available to all. By locating the new toilets in the Community Hub, they will be more secure and less susceptible to anti-social behaviour.

Improve the appearance of Hollins House including the removal of the extension.

Hollins House is not part of the planning application and funding isn’t available to make alterations to the building. However, a heritage consultant has advised on the design of the new hub to ensure that appropriate materials are used to complement Hollins House and not detract from its heritage significance.

Improve children’s play provision as part of the scheme and include communal outdoor space with seating.

This is being developed alongside a comprehensive landscaping and public realm strategy. The strategy will enhance children’s play facilities at Memorial Park with new informal play and a sensory / nature area. A new external seating area is proposed to the east elevation as part of the public realm which can cater to a range of requirements.

The development should not increase the risk of flooding

A drainage strategy form part of the proposed hub plans which ensures that there will be no flooding or surface water issues as a result of the development.

Cycle and disabled parking should be close to the hub entrance

Cycle and disabled parking are located within close proximity to the hub entrance to enable convenient access.

The library should include workspaces and break out areas

The hub includes versatile spaces such as a community room, meeting rooms, and seating areas in the library to cater to a range of needs.

The sandpit at infant play area should be removed

The sandpit from the infant play area will be removed.

Removal of the level change within the library

This has been removed to allow the area to be fully accessible. Any required level changes will now be addressed through the external landscaping strategy.