Progress on Stockport Interchange hits latest milestone

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The main structure of the residential component of the ongoing development of Stockport Interchange has been completed as work continues to progress on the site.

The 14-storey building will house 196 high-quality apartments and sit alongside a new transport interchange and town centre park at the heart of Stockport town centre’s £1 billion regeneration.

Willmott Dixon, contractors on the scheme, marked the latest milestone in the delivery of Stockport Interchange with a ‘topping out ceremony’ on the roof of the new residential building on Tuesday 23rd May.

Attendees included Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, Stockport Council Leader, Cllr Mark Hunter, managing director of Willmott Dixon in the North, Antony Dillon, and Mark McNamee, managing director and founder of CityHeart, Stockport Council and Transport for Greater Manchester’s (TfGM) development partner on the residential component of the Interchange. They were joined by representatives from GMCA, TfGM, Willmott Dixon, CityHeart, Stockport Council and other key partners involved in the scheme.

The Mayor took part in a signing to mark the occasion alongside Max Longdon a local 22-year-old care leaver who through Willmott Dixon’s Building Lives Academy on-site has been gained qualifications and help getting into employment.

The residential scheme is being developed by Interchange Homes and sits in the hub of the new transport interchange.

The apartments are ideally situated for those wanting easy access to Manchester city centre and London thanks to their proximity to both rail and bus links, while also being just a short walk from the local amenities in Stockport town centre. All 196 apartments, comprising of 126 two-bed and 70 one-bed properties, will be available to rent once completed. Residents will also have access to a shared garden area.

In addition, a ground floor retail space will provide an opportunity for businesses to take advantage of this central location, as well as five commercial units facing onto the new park.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:

“The regeneration of Stockport town centre is really gathering pace and I’ve been impressed with the residential offering so far.

“The development will provide the area with much-needed homes for rent in the heart of the town with fantastic transport connections to Manchester city and the capital.

“I was delighted to take part in the signing along with partners to celebrate this milestone.”

Cllr Mark Hunter, leader of Stockport Council, said:

“The Transport Interchange is a pivotal part of the £1billion transformation of Stockport Town Centre and we are delighted to carry out this ceremony with our partners.

“Over the past 18 months we have seen an incredible amount of progress take place on site, which is such an important project for our town.

“It is more than just a transport hub – it is a clear statement about the future of our town centre and our borough as a whole.”

The Interchange project, which represents part of a major £1 billion investment in Stockport, is being delivered by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), Stockport Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), in conjunction with contractor Willmott Dixon.

Due to open in Spring 2024, Stockport Interchange forms a core part of the Town Centre West regeneration district, a 130-acre site, being driven forward by Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), that will see 4,000 new homes, leisure space, workspace and amenities delivered alongside these major transport and infrastructure improvements.

Once complete, the Interchange will be a key transport hub for the city-region and part of the Bee Network – the vision for a fully-integrated London-style, transport network in Greater Manchester.

Warren Taylor and Nigel Rawlings of joint venture development partner CityRise Interchange Homes added:

“This landmark residential development is incredibly important as the first project in the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation’s regeneration plans, signifying the ambitions of the Council.

“On reaching this key milestone, we can see the tremendous impact that our development will have on the Stockport skyline.

“Critically for Stockport’s local residents, the interchange connects the train station via its link to the heart of the town centre via the new park. It’s fantastic to see the structure really taking shape.”

Other progress made on the Stockport Interchange site in recent weeks includes the completion of the transport hub’s structural frame, the installation of the concrete frame for the podium park and work starting on the spiral cycling and walking ramp. The structural frame for the Mersey Pavilion has also been built.

Anthony Dillon, managing director of Willmott Dixon in the North, said:

“We’re proud to say that, as well as transforming the skyline of Stockport, the interchange and residential development really is changing lives and creating opportunities for local people.

“To date, alongside TfGM and Stockport Council, we have created more than 100 new jobs, delivered more than 295 weeks of apprenticeship and training weeks, as well as employment opportunities for local people facing barriers to work through our dedicated Building Lives Academy programme.

“We’ve worked directly with the likes of charities Groundwork and Project Recce, the Department for Work and Pensions as well as Pure College to deliver Building Lives Academies for care-leavers, armed forces veterans, long-term unemployed individuals and young people with special educational needs in Stockport.

“This is a project for the people of Stockport, built by the people of Stockport as 60% of the project team live within 20 miles of our site.”

Lord Kerslake, Chairman of Stockport MDC, added:

“The completion of the main structure of this residential block is another momentous occasion for Stockport Interchange and the regeneration district, Town Centre West.

“Our work to ensure Stockport becomes one of the most liveable town centres in Greater Manchester continues at pace, with our announcement last week of our new partnership with English Cities Fund for our Stockport 8 site, and now one week later, with the structure for this residential tower at the Interchange completed.

“With our partners, Transport for Greater Manchester, Willmott Dixon and CityRise, and with the support of the GMCA and Homes England, we have been able to create new quality homes for the people of Stockport. Once the Interchange is completed, it will not only bring new homes, but a transformational transport hub for the town centre.”