Social impact developer CAPITAL&CENTRIC has submitted plans to deliver a new £60m community at Weir Mill in Stockport town centre.
CAPITAL&CENTRIC is proposing 253 one-, two- and three-bed apartments across the existing Weir Mill buildings and two new design-led buildings alongside 24,000 sq ft of commercial space that will create a new leisure and culture destination in the heart of Stockport.
The submission of the plans follows a two-stage public consultation, which saw overwhelming support for the plans to regenerate the derelict site and restore Weir Mill.
The plans will provide a new riverside location for residents and visitors to enjoy, with spaces for independent businesses such as shops, café-bars or delis. There will be a new public space looking out across the River Mersey with dramatic views of the town’s iconic viaduct and the King Street West bridge.
Weavers Square will become the heart of the scheme with the old cast iron columns of Weavers Shed retained to create a vibrant new home for street markets, DJ sets, live music events and pop ups. With exposed brick, vaulted arches and cast iron columns, the West Shed will be a relaxed and flexible co-working and hang out space.
Adam Higgins, co-founder of CAPITAL&CENTRIC said: “This is the future of our town centres. Dynamic and progressive towns like Stockport will be full of residents. We’re creating a mini-city eco system of café bars, delis, coworking spaces, gyms and everything else in between.
“We were made up by how many people took part in the consultation and following the feedback, and the impact of the pandemic, we’re proposing even more outdoor space with balconies on some of the apartments and a roof terrace for residents, in addition to the public open spaces.
“Providing a new access to the Mersey this will be a place for riverside chilling in the evening sun or some fine dining in the restored wheel house overlooking the water. The West Shed will be a new chilled space to take your laptop, grab a coffee and while away the day or even use it as a first class lounge for Stockport train station nearby. We think it’ll set the standard for town centre communities and take on the cities when it comes to where people choose to live.”
The site is located in a highly sustainable location near to Stockport train station and adjacent to the planned new £120m transport interchange, with new walking and cycling links to the town centre and Trans Pennine Trail and over 360 cycle parking spaces proposed as part of the plans.
Weir Mill is part of Stockport’s Mayoral Development Corporation’s (MDC’s) ambitious £1bn plans for the town centre. Sitting within the Town Centre West regeneration zone, the site is backed by £7m of Housing Infrastructure Fund money from Homes England.
Stockport Council Leader, Councillor Elise Wilson said: “The Weir Mill site is a key part of our Town Centre West regeneration plans and ambition to create the newest, coolest, and greenest urban neighbourhood in Greater Manchester. It’s fantastic to start the year with Weir Mill reaching this key milestone as we look towards driving the post-pandemic recovery of our town.”
A decision on the planning application is expected from Stockport Council in the Spring. If approved construction would take around two years.
