Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) and the English Cities Fund (ECF) have launched the first community conversation on the £250 million plans to create an exciting mixed residential neighbourhood to the west of Stockport town centre, currently known as Stockport 8.
The draft masterplan from shedkm and Planit show the joint venture’s early thoughts for the next chapter in the story of Stockport’s revival, revealing proposals for overhauling Stockport town centre.
Located on land either side of King Street West and next to the railway viaduct, the plans aim to reconnect the site to the town centre and revive a former residential area which once existed beneath the railway arches.
The masterplan features:
- Up to 1,200 high-quality, energy efficient homes for the people of Stockport that will bring existing and new communities together.
- New spaces for local businesses, start-ups and community facilities which complement the existing town centre offering.
- Outdoor and green spaces to promote health and wellbeing.
- A connected, walkable neighbourhood that is integrated into the wider town centre and surrounding communities.
- Improvements to the environment with a low car neighbourhood and energy efficient buildings.
- A celebration of local heritage by opening up and creating inclusive public spaces around the iconic Stockport viaduct that can host a range of events, including markets, food festivals and live events. The grade II-listed railway viaduct is from 1840, and is one of the UK’s largest brick structures and a symbol of Stockport.
- A fully accessible neighbourhood with car parking, car clubs and plenty of cycle parking.
- A place that embraces digital technologies and design innovation with great broadband speeds as standard.
The Stockport 8 site is central to the wider £1billion investment currently being delivered across the town centre and is at the heart of the £500million Stockport MDC masterplan, which will transform Stockport into the most sustainable, liveable town centre in the region over the next decade. The 130-acre Stockport MDC masterplan will see the delivery of 4,000 new homes, alongside local amenities, green spaces, new workspace and radical transport improvements.
The development is backed by the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation and the English Cities Fund – a joint venture between Homes England, Muse and Legal & General. They are now calling for the local community to have their say and contribute towards shaping the plans to ensure there is something for everyone, to design a thriving, inclusive neighbourhood that will deliver the needs of the community now and for generations to come – with Stockport’s independent spirit and character at its core.
Drop-in sessions will be held on 1 February at Edgeley Park on Hardcastle Road and 3 February at Merseyway Shopping Centre. More information can be found here. A second consultation on the designs is expected this summer, with a planning application due to be submitted to Stockport Council this autumn.
The full team is made up of Stockport MDC, The English Cities Fund, architect shedkm, landscape architects Planit, the planning team from Deloitte, and project manager Walker Sime.