Caddick erects £25m Cheadle Eco Park’s timber frame

The signature feature of the light-industrial park off Bird Hall Lane is complete, keeping the Stockport Council and Network Space Developments’ scheme on track for a March 2027 completion.

Caddick Construction has installed the timber frame for 115,000 sq ft development, which is split into six units. Designed by AEW Architects, the smallest of the future sheds will be 8,400 sq ft, while the largest will stretch to 43,800 sq ft.

Cheadle Eco Park’s timber frame is all sustainably sourced, according to the council. Utilising timber over traditional steel will help the scheme achieve a 40% reduction in embodied carbon.

Stockport hopes for the £25m project to set a standard for industrial development in the region, with EV charging available for all of its parking bays.

Cheadle Eco Park is designed to achieve a BREEAM Outstanding rating and an EPC score of A once operational, thanks to the use of air-source heat pumps, natural ventilation, smart lighting.

Future tenants will be lower-impact companies that do not produce significant noise or pollution, according to the council. CBRE and B8 are charged with finding these occupiers.

“With construction now well under way, the sustainability credentials of Cheadle Eco Park are really taking shape,” said Tony Fox, technical director at Network Space Developments.

He added later: “Every unit will be all-electric, with VRF heating and cooling, rooftop solar PV, smart building controls and EV charging, so occupiers benefit from genuinely low running costs alongside the highest sustainability rating available.

“We are incorporating high-quality finishes, enhanced landscape treatment and sustainable surface water management, so this is a scheme businesses will be proud to be based at,” he continued.

“It’s this level of detail that’s setting a new benchmark for sustainable industrial development in the region, and we’re looking forward to seeing it come to life on site.”

AEW Architects designed the scheme, targeting BREEAM Outstanding. Credit: Stockport Council

The park is being built on a seven-acre brownfield site that was cleared by LK Group in December. The site will soon host newly planted trees, a rain garden, and sustainable drainage initiatives alongside the industrial units.

Regarding the timber frame’s installation, Stockport council cabinet member for economy, regeneration, and skills Cllr Micheala Meikle said: “You can now really see Cheadle Eco Park taking shape, marking an important moment for Cheadle and Stockport, and for our ambition to create modern, sustainable places for businesses to grow and flourish.

“By using sustainably sourced timber on this scale, the scheme shows that light-industrial development can be delivered differently in a cleaner, smarter way, and with the future in mind. We are proud that Stockport is setting the standard for the region and the UK, while delivering investment that will support Cheadle’s local economy for years to come.”

Dave Saville, regional managing director of Caddick Construction North West, added: “We have made great strides since beginning construction at Cheadle Eco Park, and it has been fantastic to see the team’s vision for this project take shape.

“With the building timber frame now complete, there is real excitement for this development as a new standard in sustainable industrial development, and this sentiment has continued to grow as work has built momentum,” he continued.

“It’s rewarding to be part of a project that not only meets the needs of Stockport Council but also sets a benchmark for the future of sustainable construction in the North West.”

Cheadle Eco Park is partially funded by a £4.4m grant from the government’s Towns Fund.

Planning permission for the scheme was granted in 2024. In addition to AEW, the planning project team included Spawforths, Tyler Grange, Wilde Consulting Engineers, and Kaizen Consulting.

You can review the plans for Cheadle Eco Park by using reference DC/090553 on Stockport Council’s planning portal.