Stockport’s historic but abandoned Woodbank Hall could finally find a new lease of life under plans to convert it into apartments.
The Grade II*-listed Georgian villa was once home to the industrialist Peter Marsland, and later used as a museum and council offices.
Built in the early 19th century, it stands in parkland gifted to the council after the First World War in memory of the town’s fallen. The hall itself was donated in 1924.
Despite its historic and architectural importance, it has been left empty and crumbling for several years.
Its sorry plight has even seen it added to the ‘buildings at risk’ register kept by Save Britain’s Heritage.
But Dash Architecture has now revealed the council has commissioned it to work on designs for a ‘significant restoration’ of the site.
According to the Stockport firm’s website, the brief was to include ‘one and two-bedroom affordable apartments’ for part sale.
The company says this has been achieved through ‘sensitive intervention’ and minimal changes to the main building and features.
“Spaces of exceptional interest, including the entrance hall/staircase have been integrated and thus sensitively preserved within the proposals,” it adds.
The firm is now awaiting the findings of third party surveys as well as cost and feasibility appraisals.
The town hall has confirmed it hopes to bring the plans to fruition - with further details to be released in the near future.
A council spokesperson said: “Woodbank Hall is a magnificent Grade II* listed building that lies in the heart of Woodbank Memorial Park - an incredibly popular park visited by thousands of Stopfordians each year.
“We are working hard to develop exciting proposals that will do justice to the hall, resulting in it being fully renovated, protected and maintained for the future.
“We hope to share these proposals in the next few months and we will be very keen to hear local people's views as we consult on the hall's future.”
If the scheme is taken forward, a planning application would need to be submitted to the council.
A decision on whether to grant permission of the project would then be taken by the authority's planning and highways committee.
