Stockport wields CPO powers to unblock £145m regen
Stockport Council is set to force the acquisition of 72-74 Wellington Road South to pave the way for a 60,000 sq ft office in a later fifth phase of the Stockport Exchange development.
The local authority has made five offers to owner Kieran Henry over eight years for the 3,000 sq ft office building. In August 2024, Stockport Council began to prepare a compulsory purchase order for the site, having failed with negotiations.
A CPO has now been prepared and is due to be ratified by the cabinet when it meets next week, signalling the beginning of the end of the stand-off.
The updated masterplan for Stockport Exchange compiled by Sheppard Robson outlines a vision for around 245,000 sq ft of additional office space across three buildings and 100 apartments. 60,000 sq ft of the additional office space is planned on the site of 72-74 Wellington Road.
In total, the council and development partner Muse have already delivered some 175,000 sq ft of office space, extensive public realm, a 115-bed hotel, and two multi-storey car parks.
The final phases will connect the £145m scheme with the A6 in order to create “strong links” and a “high-profile” frontage.
According to Stockport Council, Stockport Exchange’s ongoing development is “critical to the continued growth of the town”.
A statement of reasons supporting the use of a CPO prepared by Mills & Reeve said the land in question is a “key gateway” to the scheme, categorising the building as “run-down”.
In addition, the statement indicates that the building is currently subject to ongoing investigations in respect of its use as an illegal HMO, following a visit from the Greater Manchester Fire Service early this year.
Good news. I hope to see CPOs used more heavily in the coming years to free up more land banked by developers.
By Tom
Good to see, too many sitting on eyesores blocking progress.
By Pablo
But why more offices? Didn’t Stockport convert offices into flats not so long ago?
By Anonymous
Why does Stockport have lots of empty office blocks just look into Cheadle /Cheadle Hulme.
Regarding the A6 it looks a mess with lots of disused shops ,empty etc all along the A 6 .I would like to ask who is the person responsible for planning , because if you ask the public Stockport is just a massive of Apartments
By Anonymous
CPOs should be illegal if the owner is known and you are in dialogue with them.
It’s called negotiation, and things have a value to the individual.
Private companies or individuals can’t CPO council land if it’s it’s not used
By Anonymous
Great news – immensely frustrating to see freeholders around the town centre leave their properties to rot as the town moves forward.
Looking forward to a greater eastern footprint for the MDC and hopefully similar work can be done on St. Petersgate.
By Anonymous