PLANNING | £60m Weir Mill tops Stockport planning agenda 

Capital&Centric’s 253-home redevelopment of the listed mill is tipped for approval, alongside the 64,000 sq ft fourth phase of Muse Developments’ Stockport Exchange office scheme. 


Weir Mill 

WEIR MILL VIEW02 DUSK FINAL HIGH RES

The 253-home development was designed by BDP. Credit: CGI by Our Studio

Developer: Capital&Centric 

Architect: BDP 

Planner: Avison Young 

The developer proposes transforming the site to create a £60m residential scheme, retaining some of the historic mill buildings and constructing two new-build elements. 

The new-build elements would be located either side of Stockport’s famous viaduct and would rise to seven and 14 storeys, providing 166 of the 253 homes. 

The former East Mill and West Mill buildings would be converted to provide the remaining 87 apartments. 

Of the apartments, 144 would have one bedroom, 106 would have two bedrooms and there would be three with three bedrooms. 

Other buildings retained include the 6,000 sq ft West Shed, which would be converted into a bar, restaurant, or coworking space. The Wheelhouse is earmarked to provide an additional 3,400 sq ft of commercial space. 

In total, there would be 24,000 sq ft of commercial accommodation within the Weir Mill development. 

The Chestergate building, a pair of courtyard buildings, and the Weaving Shed would be demolished under Capital&Centric’s plans. 

Weavers Square, an outside space for markets and events, would be located underneath the grade two-listed viaduct and would feature retained cast-iron columns from the site’s former weavers shed. 

Weir Mill Capital & Centric 3

The scheme features 24,000 sq ft of commercial space. Credit: CGI by Our Studio

West Courtyard, another of the development’s outdoor spaces, is described by Capital&Centric as “a post-Covid green oasis”. 

The developer bought the site from Maryland Securities in May 2020 and lodged a planning application for the project the following January. 

The project has divided opinion. Some are happy to see the derelict mill repurposed, while others claim the new build elements impact negatively on views of the viaduct. 

Objections received from the Victorian Society and Ancient Monuments Society mean that, should Stockport Council’s planning committee vote to approve the project on Thursday, it would be referred to the new Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove. 

Gove would make the final decision on whether to approve the scheme or call it in for review. 

In recommending the redevelopment of Weir Mill for approval, Stockport Council planning officers said the project would deliver “considerable regenerative benefits to a key strategic site…that has been a key regeneration objective of the council for many years”. 

The officers’ report added that the scheme “is heavily reliant on grant funding and remains only marginally viable”.  

For this reason, the contentious 14-storey new-build element is required because the scheme would be “totally unviable” without it, the council said. 


Stockport Exchange Three 

Stockport Exchange 3 Muse P.Muse

The project will benefit from £4.2m from the government’s Getting Building Fund. Credit: Muse

Developer: Muse Developments 

Architect: Ryder Architecture

Planner: Savills 

The 64,000 sq ft office is latest element of the £145m Stockport Exchange to come forward. 

Having already delivered a 1,000-space multistorey car park, a 115-bedroom Holiday Inn Express hotel, and two offices totalling 120,000 sq ft, Muse is seeking approval for a third office and another car park. 

Now, Muse is progressing Stockport Exchange Three, a six-storey office designed by Ryder Architecture. 

The latest phase of the project, which also features a 400-space multi-storey car park, will benefit from £4.2m from the government’s Getting Building Fund. 

The decked car park is to sit next to the 1,000-space multi-storey park delivered as phase one of Stockport Exchange, which was funded by Canada Life. 

Stockport Exchange is the redevelopment of the former Grand Central area of the town into an office-led, mixed-use scheme that will comprise 375,000 sq ft of workspace once complete.  

Occupiers at Stockport Exchange include Music Magpie, BASF, and Stagecoach. 

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The scheme also features a 400-space multi-storey car park. Credit: via planning documents

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what a great addition to Stockport and Manchester Weir Mill will be – i say get it built!!

By yes

Stockport Council declare a climate emergency yet will approve another multistorey carpark!

By Anonymous

Yes, Weir Mill is a nice design. No, it shouldn’t be built to be taller than the viaduct – Stockport’s only recognisable landmark. This C&C design spoils the symmetry of the viaduct but only by 6 floors. Is it really worth spoiling Stockport’s classic skyline for 60 or so apartments? If regeneration of the site is more important than the viaduct, and if a tower must be built, then the council should go bigger and look for a truly unique skyscraper (or collection of towers) that’s a new landmark in itself. Perhaps something like the stalled Infinity towers in Liverpool. Weir Mill’s design comprising the viaduct anyway, while comprising the sites potential.

By Bootle

Looks great, the thing is, how are people meant to live with trains literally a few metres away?

By MrP

The Viaduct is what makes Stockport unique. The building of the Viaduct was taught in schools. Our children know how many bricks it contains now Stockport Council dismiss its importance and will be happy for an ugly tower to block it out. I am totally against this monstrous tower block being built in our town and really hope Mr Gove rejects the application. It’s a disgrace.

By By No

Mr P – I’d rather live near a train line than near a much noiser main road/motorway

By Anonymous

Weir Mill would be a brilliant thing for Stockport. The building is special and the plans for the public square will bring more people closer to the viaduct to appreciate it

By Julian

Would love to see the appraisal for the Muse scheme. £4.2m of public money?

By Numbers

Whilst the Weir Mill project has many good points, the tower next to the Viaduct is a truly appalling idea. When I first saw the image I thought it was some kind of spoof posting. Rule number one of new buildings must surely be to not destroy the beauty, character and appeal of existing structures. I’m so disappointed in this developer that they care so little for the town, as to suggest this. If it gets built, it will become a text book example of bad decision making by councils and the foolishly great influence afforded to developers with their own agendas and interests at heart.

By Patricia Cunningham

No, please do not build this massive multi story block next to the iconic viaduct! Already the Red Rock monstrosity which is visible from the motorway, is an eyesore.
Please preserve and enhance the viaducts beauty and build sympathetically!

By Snooze

They left the girders on the outside? It looks like and old telephone box. Shockingly bad

By Dave

Is this proposed Development to replace the Transport Hub, if it is I strongly oppose it.

By Linda Mair

Why more offices? We have a number of empty office blocks already, which could be converted to living accommodation. Also what about the precinct??

By Margaret Hardman

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