Manchester firms collaborate on listed building transformation

Two Manchester firms have teamed up to turn an old church and adjacent land into 36 new homes.

Insite Properties Limited has appointed architecture and interior design practice Millson Associates to help with the delivery of the Tameside project, which includes the conversion of St Stephen’s Church, located in the Flowery Field area of Hyde, into modern living space.

Now, the firm is seeking planning consent to transform the Grade II-listed property into 20 apartments and nearby land into 16 two and three-bed houses.

Once complete, the homes will be marketed by Nook & Key, Insite’s recently established private housing arm.

Discussing the deal with Insite, the head of residential at Millson, Ryan Brookes, said: “We are delighted to be working with Nook & Key in delivering this challenging and exciting project which will breathe life into a magnificent local building.”

The apartments will comprise a mix of one and two-bed properties designed to preserve certain elements of the church’s internal architecture.

Mike Hampson, the managing director of Nook & Key, commented: “We are delighted to be working with Millson in bringing this landmark building back to life and create much-needed homes.

“Their expertise in housing and conversion projects and their understanding of our commercial needs made them the obvious choice to work with.”

He added: “We have extensive expertise within our team in the preservation and economic re-use of listed buildings so our ideas are sympathetic, realistic and we are proud that they can help bring beautiful structures like St Stephens church back into use and secure their long-term future.”

Applications for planning and listed building consent are expected to be submitted to Tameside Council at the end of the month, with work due to start in Spring 2016.

Ryan continued: “I would like to thank Tameside Council for their support to date in helping us inject new life into this important local building and look forward to moving forward through the next stage of the planning process with them.”

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