Ground broken on £120m Stockport Interchange
Work has officially started on the town’s flagship mixed-use development, which includes a transport hub, 196 apartments and a park.
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Stockport Council leader Cllr Elise Wilson launched the official start of work.
The project, which represents part of a major £1bn investment in Stockport, is being delivered by Transport for Greater Manchester, Stockport Council, and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
Willmott Dixon is the main contractor and CityRise the development partner.
Burnham said: “The new transport interchange will be transformational for the regeneration of Stockport town centre, and will act as a welcoming gateway for the town and provides much improved facilities in the town and for public transport users.
“Stockport is a great place, with a proud history and bright future. This is an exciting investment in Stockport, and the project will boost the growth of the town centre and create a vibrant, innovative space that celebrates the town’s rich history and unique character.”
The scheme comes under the stewardship of Stockpor’s Mayoral Development Corporation, which is focusing on driving forward town centre development, using powers devolved to the Mayor’s office and the support of national housing agency Homes England.
Demolition of the bus station was started in October.
Cllr Wilson said: “There’s so many aspects that I’m looking forward to, especially the new rooftop park in the heart of our town centre, which will not just be the first park created in our borough for decades, but a park that will be bigger than a football pitch and which will completely transform the look, feel and presence of Stockport, more open space, more biodiversity, more trees and more importantly a place I can’t personally wait to spend time in.”
The park is due to open in spring 2024. As part of the wider Bee Network vision, the interchange will link to new routes through the town, and to the Trans Pennine Trail and town centre.
CityRise, which will deliver the residential element, is a joint venture between Cityheart and Rise Homes. In July 2021, the alliance secured a £21.5m cash injection from the Housing Investment Loans Fund. Contracts were agreed later in the year, amid some consternation over rising costs.
Work has now started on the £120m scheme. Credit: Stockport Council
Target Completion Date?
By Bob Robinson
Invest that money in getting the tram.extension built now would surely make more sense than a transport hub with no tram line.
By Bob Jones
@Bob Jones – pretty pointless having a tram extension built without the transport hub it serves isn’t it? The bus station needed replacing regardless of future tram extensions – I don’t disagree the tram needs doing as well but it’ll take longer.
@Bob Robinson – open autumn 2024 iirc
By the light of the moon
The shortest tram extension from Parswood Didsbury to Stockport on the whole network!!! why has this been left behind in all of greater Manchester .
By warren
Because the last costings I saw were c £1bn, which seems quite a lot for what it would acheive.
By Anon
Stockport Town Centre needs a train or tram link to the airport
By Anonymous