An historic Stockport town centre pub that dates back to the 15th century will be converted into flats and a restaurant.
The Grade II-listed White Lion on the corner of Great Underbank and Lower Hillgate was bought by the council in 2015 to secure its future.
Now, says Stockport Council, a partnership with Trafford Housing Trust and Laurus Homes will see the building ‘refurbished into apartments above a ground-floor restaurant’.
The £2.4m refit will see the derelict building converted into seven one-bed, three two-bed and one two-bed duplex apartments.
Paul Westhead, from Laurus Home,s said: “Listed sites of great historic importance like the White Lion pub can be very challenging to convert successfully and many developers won’t undertake the work because of the potential financial risks.
“However, being part of a progressive housing association like Trafford Housing Trust, which is committed to regenerating neighbourhoods rather than simply selling houses for a profit, we are able to work in partnership with local authorities and take on sensitive projects like these.
“We can also see the massive potential offered by a district like the Underbanks. It’s very well located and is steeped in history, but has also faced commercial challenges meaning many buildings and shops have been vacated.
“We look forward to working with Stockport Council to bring the White Lion, and possibly some other parts of the Underbanks, back to life with a mix of high-quality residential and sustainable commercial solutions.”
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