Stockport’s transformation has reached a major milestone with planning permission granted for Stockport 8, a £350 million walkable and sustainable neighbourhood in the town centre.
The 8-acre site is being delivered by The Stockport 8 LLP – a joint venture between Stockport Council and ECF, itself a partnership between Homes England, Legal & General and Muse. It is one of several regeneration projects being led by Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) as part of the ambitious ‘Town Centre West’ (TCW) scheme to redevelop land west of the town centre.
The plans were first recommended for approval by Stockport’s central area committee in July and were formally signed off at the planning committee meeting on Thursday 14 August. Councillors also gave the go-ahead for Stockport County FC’s proposed expansion of its Edgeley Park stadium.
Stockport 8 will be built on land either side of King Street West, beside the historic viaduct, in an area once known for its bustling community under the railway arches. The scheme aims to breathe life back into this part of the town by connecting Stockport Interchange with nearby neighbourhoods and linking with the Weir Mill heritage development from Capital&Centric, which overlooks the River Mersey.
The development will deliver around 1,300 new homes over the next decade, designed to suit both existing residents and newcomers to the Greater Manchester town. Housing will be mixed in type and tenure, ranging from build-to-rent apartments to owner-occupied properties, with options for different household sizes and needs.
At the heart of the scheme is a focus on community, wellbeing and sustainability. A pedestrian-only street will run through the development, encouraging social interaction and reducing car use, while new public squares and outdoor areas will give residents vibrant spaces to relax and meet. The designs also include green infrastructure, such as tree planting, sustainable urban drainage systems, and green roofs to enhance biodiversity.
Stockport 8 sits at the centre of the MDC’s masterplan to create the UK’s most sustainable and liveable town centre, and forms a key element of the £1 billion worth of regeneration already underway across the borough.
Detailed planning consent has been granted for Phase One, which will see 435 highly energy-efficient homes built to net zero standards, including one-, two- and three-bedroom homes as well as accessible and adaptable apartments. This first stage will also deliver significant public realm improvements, including a new public square next to the viaduct, new pedestrian connections across the site, and cycle lanes along King Street West and Viaduct Street. Ground floor spaces will be reserved for community and commercial uses that complement the town centre.
Work on Phase One is scheduled to begin in 2026 with completion expected in 2028. The following phase of the neighbourhood is anticipated to start in 2029.
Leader of Stockport Council, Cllr Mark Roberts, said: ‘This isn’t about old Stockport or new Stockport – it’s about building a better Stockport for everyone. Stockport 8 is part of the UK’s largest town centre regeneration, giving us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a place that works for families, young people and older generations alike.
‘We’re proud of the work the MDC has done with partners to turn underused brownfield land into a thriving, multi-purpose neighbourhood – delivering new homes, green spaces, jobs, shops and better transport. This is about making Stockport more connected, more vibrant and more sustainable, while staying true to our One Stockport, One Future vision.
‘Our ambition is simple: growth that’s fair, sustainable and lasting – not just bigger buildings, but a stronger, more connected Stockport that people are proud to call home.’
Joe Stockton, development director at ECF, said: ‘This is an exciting time for Stockport, as we gear up to kick off one of the largest town centre regeneration projects in the UK.
‘It was clear during the community consultation that Stopfordians are fiercely proud of their town, its heritage and its communities. So, we want to stay true to our word by making sure this remains a place for everyone, with homes to suit all ages and circumstances, and a place that celebrates the area’s strong community spirit and rich heritage. People will start to see changes taking place quite quickly now as we get started on phase one.’
Catherine Chilvers, Stockport MDC Managing Director, said: ‘We’re not adopting a one-size-fits-all approach at Stockport 8 LLP, but instead, we are investing in high-quality and energy-efficient housing that offers so much more for people at all stages of life.
‘The development sets the bar high for town centre living, creating a considered neighbourhood along with leisure and employment opportunities, while outdoor squares, with a multitude of uses, will allow residents to feel connected and enable families to grow. We’re also really proud to be able to commit to delivering 82 affordable homes in Phase 1.’
Cllr Anna Charles-Jones praised the accessibility of the development, which includes 59 new homes within Plot 1 that are designed to M4(2) standards – accessible and adaptable dwellings – which are located on ground and first floor level. She said: ‘There is an accessibility gap with the number of accessible homes and the number of people disabled… the disability group is one minority group you can become a part of at any point in your life, and the whole point is that these homes can be adapted for anybody so that they can stay in their home.’
Cllr Rachel Wise acknowledged the concerns that come with building on brownfield sites but highlighted the immense improvements for residents in Stockport. She said: ‘One of the difficulties with brownfield first as an approach is it has its own balances you have to make, there are trade-offs involved. I think we have to be realistic about what can be achieved on land that has to be mitigated. I think it’s the right thing to do to bring disused industrial space back into meaningful community use, so having people live there, community units on the ground floor, I think is very strong.
‘It’s not essential we have the best of everything but we should be aspiring to, and I think this application does, making those concessions that ensure that the standard of this is of good quality and that the people who live in this space will be able to enjoy it.’
Leave a Reply