Green light for £70 million development of town centre apartments

Stockport Council has granted planning permission for a landmark £70 million residential development of 245 apartments off Wellington Street in Stockport town centre.

The scheme has been brought forward by Manchester-based developer Progressive Living in partnership with residential operator Picture This. Following planning permission being granted, construction is set to begin early 2026 on the transformation of the derelict Victoria House office building and the adjacent Fletcher Street surface car park.

The 245 high-quality homes will span two buildings of 8 to 20 storeys and comprise a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, designed in line with Passivhaus Low Energy principles. The approved plans aim to revitalise a key gateway site while supporting Stockport’s wider regeneration strategy for Stockport East and ambitions to create a vibrant, urban residential community in the heart of the town.

David Fairclough, director at Progressive Living, said:

“We’re delighted to have secured planning for what will be a flagship scheme for Stockport. This approval represents a major milestone for a project that’s been six years in the making, and we’re proud to play our part in shaping the next chapter of the town centre’s transformation. With demolition due to start later this year, we’re looking forward to delivering much-needed new homes in a sustainable, future-focused way.”

The scheme is being professionally managed by Picture This, whose approach is centred around community, design quality, and long-term stewardship. Shannon Conway, co-founder of Picture This, added:

“This marks a significant step forward for a scheme shaped by extensive local engagement, community-led principles, and user-focused design. Greater Manchester’s ‘Creating Age-Friendly Developments’ guidance provided a valuable framework for designing a scheme that is accessible, sustainable, and welcoming to people of all ages—from 0 to 100. We’re excited to carry these values forward as we enter the next stage of development.”

Earlier this year, the scheme secured Brownfield Housing Fund support from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), underlining its importance to the region’s housing pipeline and sustainability goals.

Designed by AEW Architects, the development is backed by a highly experienced team including Re-Form, Renaissance, Zerum, OFR, GIA, Novo, Our Studio, Jameson Acoustics, SK Transport, Turley, Oxford Archaeology and Euan Kellie Property Solutions, who submitted the application.

It is hoped demolition and enabling works can start this year with construction expected to begin in spring 2026, following BSA Gateway 2 approval, and completion targeted for Summer 2028.

Cllr Micheala Meikle, Cabinet Member for Economy, Regeneration and Skills at Stockport Council, added:

“This is another important step in transforming Stockport as part of the UK’s biggest town centre regeneration. These high-quality new homes will bring more people into the heart of the town, supporting local businesses and making the most of our new transport links.

“With the Mayoral Development Corporation delivering 8,000 new homes and Metrolink on the horizon, we’re building a town that works for the future – somewhere people choose to live, work and put down roots. This is exactly the kind of accessible, sustainable scheme we want to see in the town centre — creating homes for all ages as part of a thriving, low-carbon community.”