Turning Mealhouse Brow into great housing and new shops proved a challenge. The scheme is located within Stockport’s market conservation area and involved refurbishing a grade II listed building, which contains the manorial gaol, repairing medieval stone retaining walls and town walls.

Northern Counties Housing Association worked with architects TADW to enhance spaces that were there before while addressing the building’s inherent problems with new solutions. The design is one of contrasts – with a refurbished historic fabric and structure and new building technology to improve acoustics, ventilation and security in a conservation setting.

The materials and method of construction were specifically selected for their appropriateness, taking into consideration both the historic content of the premises and the structural instability and deterioration of the site and its environs. The latter had resulted in a number of collapses which led to the compulsory purchase orders by the local council and the development partnership with the association.

During the demolition stages, brickwork and stonework was cleaned, palleted and wrapped and taken to storage off site for reuse later. New and reclaimed materials were selected to fit with the old building.

The scheme now offers homes for rent and shared ownership, as well as shops.