Town centre projects deliver 221 new affordable homes

Stockport is celebrating the latest milestone of its town centre regeneration: the delivery of 221 new affordable homes across two schemes in Town Centre West.

Platform, a £16.5 million affordable housing scheme at Harrison Court, King Street West, has officially opened, while construction has also begun at Chestergate on a £41 million development to bring more affordable homes into the town centre.

Delivered by housing group Great Places in partnership with Hargreaves Contracting, Stockport Council, Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), and Homes England, Platform offers 73 stylish one and two-bedroom apartments for Rent to Buy. The development includes communal lobbies, a co-working lounge with Wi-Fi, rooftop terraces with planting and seating, secure parking with EV charging points, and internal bike storage.

To mark the occasion, Great Places Chief Executive Alison Dean hosted Stockport Council Leader Cllr Mark Roberts, along with Council and MDC representatives, as well as Navendu Mishra, MP for Stockport, and guests from Homes England for a tour of the new development.

They also visited the site of Chestergate, which will provide 148 high-quality one and two-bedroom apartments available for Social Rent and Rent to Buy. Designed to reflect Stockport’s industrial heritage, the development blends characterful architecture with sustainable design, including a green pedestrian link to the River Mersey.

The Rent To Buy model provides customers with an opportunity to save for a deposit by reducing the rent to 80 percent of the market rent for at least five years. If customers then choose to buy their home, the product is designed to ensure they have the deposit saved and options available to facilitate their purchase.

Both developments form part of the MDC’s ambitious plan to deliver 4,000 new homes in Town Centre West, adding to the vitality of the town and creating vibrant communities.

Platform has already attracted significant interest, with more than 1,300 enquiries since marketing launched in January 2025. Nearly half of the homes are now reserved or occupied, with full occupancy anticipated by November. Plumlife, part of Great Places Housing Group, is managing lettings at the scheme.

Cllr Mark Roberts, Leader of Stockport Council, said:

“We’re proud to be delivering the largest town centre regeneration in the UK, and affordable developments like this show that Stockport is for everyone – with both Rent to Buy and Social Rent showcased today. We’re making sure people at every stage of life can afford to call our town centre home.”

Commenting on the visit, Navendu Mishra MP said:

“High quality, affordable housing is a critical issue for people in Stockport and I am proud to support projects like Chestergate and Platform that deliver this type of housing. I was delighted to visit these Great Places’ developments to see first-hand the work being done to regenerate our town centre while giving local people access to secure, high-quality places to live.”

Alison Dean, Chief Executive of Great Places, added:

“We were delighted to host Mr Mishra and showcase the progress we’re making in delivering high-quality, affordable homes in Stockport. Platform and Chestergate are key developments that support the regeneration of Town Centre West and reflect our commitment to creating vibrant, inclusive communities through strong partnerships.”

Chestergate is being delivered in partnership with Bridgestone Construction, Paddock Johnson Architects, and CPC Project Services, with funding support from Homes England, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Brownfield Housing Fund. Completion is expected in early 2028.