Construction underway for Stockport’s multi-million-pound transformation
- Multi-million-pound transformation from bus station to modern transport interchange has started in Stockport seven years on from when first announced
Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is working in partnership with Stockport Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority to build a new bus interchange as part of a £1bn investment to make the town a better place to live and work.
The new interchange, set to open in 2024, will provide new cycling and walking routes, 20 bus stands, and 196 high-quality residential apartments.
A main feature of the interchange is a new two-acre rooftop park, bringing more green space to Stockport, maximising available space and providing people with an area to meet, play and relax.
The construction of the interchange is part of the Stockport town centre Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), which is a new approach to tackling future housing need and changing the role of town centres.
The mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has plans to create a ‘London-style’ network across Greater Manchester which would include Metrolink coming to Stockport, Bolton and Middleton.
Councillor David Meller, cabinet member for economy and regeneration at stockport said: “We’re putting a lot of effort into promoting public and sustainable transport, and with a brand-new bus station coming in, we hope a lot more people will be encouraged to use public transport.
“It’ll be far more accessible than what we had previously, it wasn’t the most pleasant of places to visit.
“This links into what’s happening across Greater Manchester with Andy Burnham’s work particularly with significant investment into transport from the Government.
“It’s coming to an excellent time for public transport here, we will now have the capacity to house Metrolink so we’re really working hard to bring that here to Stockport.”
He said the reception among residents had been positive.
“The last few years I think we’ve seen Stockport really not punching it’s weight and we’ve seen the town on the decline,” he said,.
“But certainly since 2016, when a lot of this work kicked off, we’ve seen a real resurgence in interest in Stockport, and people are becoming really proud again of where they live.”
Future plans for development include new café-bars, delis, and independent shops in the town centre, alongside more than 150 more houses and apartments.