Stockport Interchange developer search gets under way
The council is looking to appoint a development partner to help deliver the residential element of its £120m town centre transport interchange, set to feature 196 apartments.
Stockport’s proposals for the site of its current bus station feature a 196-home apartment block, a transport interchange covered with a green roof, and two acres of public realm opening up on to the river Mersey, alongside improved connectivity to the town’s railway station. The plans also factor in a route for the Metrolink’s potential arrival to the town.
Following unanimous approval from the council in March this year, Stockport has now issued a tender for a development partner for the residential element, which is anticipated to cost around £40m.
The partner is expected to invest equity into a special purpose vehicle with the council, and secure development funding to deliver the residential scheme.
The council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority are expected to invest £10m into the SPV to ensure the scheme is viable; Housing Infrastructure Fund money is also available to support the development.
The residential element will be delivered collaboratively with the council, GMCA and Transport for Greater Manchester; this approach also includes “identification and delivery of value engineering opportunities and maximising gross development value and financial returns to stakeholders,” according to tender documents.
The development partner will also be required to manage the asset for a minimum term once it completes, and is expected to be appointed in November this year.
A single design-and-build contractor will be appointed to deliver the entire scheme on a two-stage process, including the residential and the interchange itself. The contractor will, however, be appointed by Transport for Greater Manchester under two separate contracts; one for the interchange, and one for the residential.
It is understood the contractor will be appointed via the Pagabo Major Works framework, which includes Galliford Try, Interserve, ISG, Laing O’Rourke, Morgan Sindall, Sir Robert McAlpine, Vinci, and Willmott Dixon.
The interchange project, which has a gross development value of £120m, has already secured £41.7m of Growth Fund money, which will primarily be used to deliver the transport interchange and public realm.
According to the council, the scheme will take around three years to deliver. BDP is lead designer on the project, providing architecture, landscape design and lighting design. WSP is lead consultant.
Stockport council have already spent far to much of OUR money on stupid projects. They need to address poveety, social housing. Not projects that enhance the rich and themselves. Whose stupid idea was it to open up the river under Mersey square. What an absolute disgrace.
By David whittaker
The river is an obvious natural asset which, now not heavily polluted, makes sense to open up to all. The Council has, and continues to, invest in Council housing. I understand that 1 in 2 properties in SK1 is in fact Council housing.
This scheme is about delivering new stock to attract new people into the town centre who are under the age of 65. It also builds on the successes of Stockport Exchange abd will improve the bus station which is more than a bit tired. Private rent is the right product for the town centre as you can make use of excellent bus and rail links. It doesnt, however, add up. So if the Council dont do this no one else will. Another good project that improves the town centre and deserves more support!
By Spectator
I don’t see why people insist on moaning about it it is change deal with it if you don’t want to be a part of change then don’t just don’t moan about it happening it is your choice not to go with it everyone else seems happy with it the council also are not there to end poverty that’s what we as a race are there for if someone is in need we are all supposed to help if you don’t already do your own part in helping to end poverty then you can’t call the council out for it because they are just civil servants after all and technically speaking there job is to make sure that this town works the way it should poverty is actually only that person’s problem if you also want to take that view but either way the council are there to keep the town moving and as long as the town works the way it should then the council probably don’t care if people are going hungry
By Tom
Why must the bus station ocupy the best land it could be elsewhere . The buses could visit the centre en route. A massive accommodation and local shop project could occupy this at present wasted land. Look at Lisbon ..?
By Chris hardy
I wouldn’t say the don’t care a level of social injustice economically will always be apart of any society. Creating interest in some case wealth in a area is important. Stockport doesn’t want to be a forgotten Town as many parts of England as occurred. There must something that investors see in Stocksport . Remember that’s it’s impossible to Please all of the people all of the time. You can only please some of the people some of the time.
By Reddish Resident
David Whittaker, unlike many other local authorities Stockport Council through it’s development company (Stockport Homes) has been developing social and affordable housing for over 10 years.
By Anonymous
If they want to redevelop Stockport, start with the Precinct & Mersey Square. It needs a major overhaul of all the areas. Prince Street is just as bad. Also bring back the shuttle bus for the elderly. Trade has fallen to on its face since that was ended along with the Market. Are You trying to kill the Boroughs’ Trade? You will if you attract Trade back
By Miss Yvette Taylor