Car park works start at Stockport’s Grand Central site

The revival of Stockport's 10-acre Grand Central scheme is progressing a year after the local council bought the site.

The plot was acquired after plans to redevelop it with Norwich-based developer Targetfollow fell through. One of the developer's subsidiaries, Targetfollow Property Holdings, went into administration.

Muse Developments was appointed by the council last year to redevelop a scheme it claims can generate up to 700 new jobs and attract up to a further £100m in private sector investment.

The plan is to build around 400,000 sq ft of offices in half-a-dozen buildings plus a hotel and multi-storey car park.

Planning consent was granted for the car park in November and the council has secured a £5m grant from Network Rail to help pay for it.

Work has now started to provide temporary car parking for commuters and users of existing leisure facilities in the period leading up to, and during, its construction.

Unoccupied public house The Cube has been demolished to make way for a 42-space temporary car park. The Tenpin bowling alley will be closing down in February and is slated for demolition in March, making way for another 150 parking spaces.

Cllr Dave Goddard, leader of Stockport Council, said: "We're making great progress so far on the regeneration of Grand Central, since buying it last year.

"Part of our plan is to provide an excellent offer to commuters, and make it more convenient for people to take the train. To make sure there is minimal disruption while we construct the new multi-story car park, we are making sure that temporary parking is provided for commuters and users of the leisure facilities.

"We're working closely with our development partner Muse to create a premier office and commuter destination, which will create jobs, attract investment and benefit the borough. We mean business – we bought the site to guarantee positive action, and that's exactly what we're doing."