Warning new offices will dwarf town's landmarks

A town's major landmarks are in danger of being dwarfed by new offices, Historic England has warned.

The organisation raised concerns that a plan to build a ten-storey building next to Stockport Viaduct would "hem in" the iconic structure and "diminish" its appearance on the town's skyline.

It also said proposals for separate six-storey office buildings would "entirely block the view" of Stockport Town Hall for people arriving at the railway station.

The plans are part of Stockport Council's £145m Stockport Exchange development.

The first phase of the scheme has already been completed near the railway station, which included building offices, a multi-storey car park, hotel, bars and shops.

But Historic England has advised the council to limit new office buildings to three storeys due to the need to "conserve the prominence and formal, public nature of the town hall".

Its feedback stated that the latest proposals for Stockport Exchange would be "harmful to both the setting of the town hall and viaduct, and to the character of the town."

It said it was not opposed to the development but that efforts should be made to minimise the potential harm of the offices by reducing their height and positioning them so the town hall and viaduct could still be seen.

The proposals will be decided at a planning committee meeting on Thursday.

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