Caddick breaks ground on £27m Stockport resi

Eyeing a summer 2025 completion date, the contractor is working on behalf of The Guinness Partnership to build 131 affordable apartments on a plot behind the town hall.

Caddick Construction has broken ground off Edward Street to deliver the apartment building, which will reach 11 storeys at its tallest point.

The Bowker Sadler Architecture-designed scheme will feature 84 one- and 47 two-bedroom flats, all of which will be affordable. There will be 63 residences available for affordable rent, while the remaining 68 properties will be available for social rent.

Residents will have access to more than 130 cycle spaces, as well as electric vehicle charging bays.

Proposals also include fresh planting in order to promote biodiversity on the brownfield plot.

Paul Dodsworth, managing director of Caddick Construction Group, said: “The redevelopment of brownfield land is an extremely valuable way of meeting growing demand for affordable housing, and projects of this nature – particularly those in busy town centre environments – call for a great deal of care.

“Our project team, alongside the expertise of our colleagues in Caddick Civil Engineering, will ensure a high-quality project that serves the needs of the local community while causing minimal disruption to our neighbours.”

Catriona Simons, group chief executive of The Guinness Partnership, added: “All of the 131 new homes will be energy efficient, with an EPC rating of A or B, meaning they will be warm and affordable homes, as well as places people are proud to live.”

“Our Edward Street development will also create opportunities for local people as we, and our partner contractors, will hire and train local people, engage with schools, and work with community groups.

This is not the first time that Caddick has worked on behalf of The Guiness Partnership, having been appointed last year as contractor on the housing association’s 63-home development off Kiwi Street in Salford.

Plans were originally submitted for the Stockport scheme in 2019, for the demolition of the existing buildings on the site, including the Crucible Snooker Club, to be replaced with 135 apartments.

Updated proposals were submitted in 2022, reducing the number of homes in order to reduce the overall cost of the development with the site having already been cleared.

The £26.7m scheme has been part funded by Homes England and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Brownfield Housing Fund.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “There is an urgent need for more genuinely affordable housing and homes for social rent, not just in Stockport but across the city-region and around the country.

“That is precisely why our Brownfield Housing Fund is helping to bring forward sites for redevelopment, enabling partners like Caddick and The Guinness Partnership to deliver new homes and support the renewal of our town and city centres, and it’s great to see that in action here at Edward Street.”

Cllr Mark Hunter, Leader of Stockport Council, added: “This latest development is the result of partners working together to bring forward much needed, affordable homes in the heart of the town centre.

“This complements our ambitious plans for the town centre, which will see many more new homes created in a vibrant new neighbourhood, for people to call home and benefit from all the amenities of our town.”

The professional team on the project includes planner NJL Consulting and transport planner Crofts.