Councillors are expected allow the next phase in development of Stockport Interchange to move forward in Stockport Council’s first Economy and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee Meeting on 17th June.
Since the last report to the council in February 2020, work has moved forward on the project that will see a new state-of-the-art bus interchange developed on the site of the existing terminus, along with a rooftop park accessible from the A6, and 196-home a build-to-rent residential apartment scheme to be delivered by Cityheart and Rise Homes. Despite the pandemic, work has begun on delivering a temporary bus station at Heaton Lane Car Park to allow services to continue while construction is underway, as well as progress having been made on detailed planning and design of the scheme.
The project, being led by Stockport Council, GMCA and TfGM and delivered by contractors Wilmott Dixon, will also incorporate space for the bus interchange to integrate with a proposed Metrolink extension into Stockport town centre on the East Didsbury line. The residential element of the scheme will see a new apartment building constructed overlooking the rooftop park, bringing 196 build-to-rent apartments to the town centre by the end of 2024. The residential scheme has secured £3 million in funding from the GM Brownfield Housing Fund
In order for work to progress further, councillors are now set to approve the creation of a formal legal structure between GMCA, Stockport Council and residential-build partners in order to allow funding to be distributed for the development.
Stockport Interchange is one of the key schemes that form part of the council’s £1 billion town centre regeneration plan, and is expected to be completed in 2024. The scheme will also be at the heart of the region’s ‘newest, coolest, greenest’ urban neighbourhood being delivered by the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation in the Town Centre West area.
Stockport Council’s Economy and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee will meet next week on 17th June to discuss progress on Stockport Interchange.