Stockport confirms team for £120m interchange

3 March 2020 16:26 Jessica Middleton-Pugh Comments (0)

Willmott Dixon has been appointed to develop first-stage proposals for the interchange in the town centre, alongside a joint venture between Cityheart and Rise Homes to bring forward 196 apartments, as tipped by Place North West last month.

The contractor beat Morgan Sindall, Galliford Try, and Vinci to the BDP-designed scheme, while the residential JV was competing against Muse Developments.

Stockport Council has now confirmed the appointments, and said construction of the interchange will start in early 2021, with completion estimated for 2023. The residential development is expected to open in 2024.

Once built, the interchange will have 20 bus stands, a covered passenger concourse with seated waiting areas, bus and train travel information screens, a Travelshop, baby changing facilities and toilet.

The transport hub will be connected to the A6 by a lift, which will also open out onto a two-acre public park on the roof of the interchange building, next to the residential block.

There will also be a cycle and footbridge linking the development and railway station. The plans also factor in a potential route for the Metrolink tram network. Stockport revealed in January the town was requesting up to £1bn from the Government to back the extension of the line from East Didsbury.

Cllr Elise Wilson, leader of Stockport Council, said: “The appointment of both Willmott Dixon as main contractor and Cityheart/Rise as residential development Partner are key milestones in the delivery of the transformational project that the interchange will be.

“We look forward to working in partnership with both these parties with their excellent track record and expertise and all other stakeholders to deliver something really special for Stockport.

“This scheme, with the latest in bus station design, 196 new high quality apartments overlooking both the opened-up river and two acre green park, and with its walking and cycling connection back to Stockport rail station, will rightly be a statement of intent for the town and the Mayoral Development Corporation and will build upon the sustainable travel connections that the bus interchange, train station and now Metrolink will bring.”