Stockport’s latest office building takes shape

Partners Stockport Council and nationwide placemaker, Muse, have come together to celebrate the latest phase of Stockport Exchange reach its highest point. The scheme is now on track to complete in late Summer this year.

The £145 million Stockport Exchange, being delivered by Stockport Council and Muse, forms part of Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation’s £500 million Town Centre West masterplan. The 130-acre site will deliver 4,000 high quality new homes, transport and infrastructure improvements, alongside spaces to work, socialise and spend time in.

This comes off the back of several recent announcements from the Council, as a number of major projects including the Transport Interchange and Weir Mill reached key milestones, with work progressing at pace on site.   

Galliford Try was appointed by partners as the contractor to create the third stunning, 64,000 sq ft office building, which will sit adjacent to 1 and 2 Stockport Exchange. Alongside the new office will be a 399-space multi-storey car park for occupiers, which will feature charging points for electric cars and a living wall. This latest phase will further add to the popular business hub that’s been created to benefit both the town centre and the community. Stockport Exchange is now home to a wide variety of businesses from different sectors, including O’Neill Patient Solicitors, musicMagpie, Bask and its most recent addition Community Health and Eyecare (CHEC).       

Delivery of the new office and car park was accelerated by a £4.2 million funding injection from the government’s Getting Building Fund through Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Since the partnership began back in 2012, the team has completely transformed the area around Stockport train station with three successful phases already completed, including a 115-bedroom Holiday Inn Express, a 1,000-space NCP multi-story car park, as well as two striking office buildings totalling 120,000 sq ft with ground-floor retail, sat within beautifully landscaped public spaces. This has become a popular place for visitors to enjoy and spend time, with events and pop-up food offerings further adding to the appeal of the area.       

Leader of Stockport Council, Cllr Mark Hunter, said:

“Stockport Exchange has been immensely popular, and we are responding to increasing demand from the business community for high quality office space in an accessible, town centre.

“We are attracting a diverse mix of tenants and this latest phase will allow even more businesses to take advantage of not only Stockport Exchange but the wider town centre and the £1bn investment currently under way.”

Tom Webber, senior development surveyor at Muse, said:

“It’s a fantastic feeling to reach this latest milestone as we continue creating a diverse and well-connected place for business that’s been a catalyst for wider economic growth and regeneration.

“Together with our partners at Stockport Council and Stockport MDC, we’re committed to our collective vision of delivering place-changing, sustainable regeneration that promotes wellbeing and builds brighter futures for all in Stockport.”    

Darren Parker, managing director for Galliford Try Building North West, commented:

“Delivering a prestigious commercial development like Stockport Exchange is particularly pleasing for myself, who along with a number of other members of the Galliford Try project team live in Stockport. Seeing the continued investment in the town is exciting and excellent news for the local community.”

Once complete, the wider Stockport Exchange development will have delivered up to 375,000 sq ft of office space and 28,000 sq ft of commercial floor space.

Cushman & Wakefield and CBRE are acting as joint agents for the scheme.