Capital&Centric’s Weir Mill neighbourhood in Stockport reaches major milestone
Stockport’s most anticipated new neighbourhood has reached a major milestone.
Social impact developers Capital&Centric have given a sneak peek of the £60m transformation of the Weir Mill site, with the concrete frame of the 14-storey new apartment block building now at its highest point.
Nestled under the arches of Stockport’s viaduct, work on the repurposing of the sprawling heritage site is well underway. As well as the new build, the historic mill buildings - parts of which date back to the 1700s - are also undergoing painstaking restoration ready for the re-birth the site as buzzing new neighbourhood.
It’s set to be a stand-out destination in Stockport’s Town Centre West masterplan - a 130-acre regeneration district being driven by Stockport MDC, which will see the delivery of 4,000 new homes, alongside local amenities, green spaces, new workspace and radical transport improvements.
The Capital&Centric team were joined at the top of the tower by Stockport Council and the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) to toast the moment.
Once complete in 2024, Weir Mill will deliver 253 design-led apartments new green outdoor space, and independent bars, restaurants and shops. Capital&Centric are planning to kick-start the hunt for indie operators to call the site home early in the new year, with early expressions of interest already coming in.
Alongside them were local young people, there as part of a week-long Regeneration Brainery currently underway in the town. The not-for-profit ‘Brainery’ was set up to get young people from diverse backgrounds fired up about a career in property and regeneration via immersive bootcamps that help showcase the scale of opportunities.
It's all adding to the buzz around the town’s renaissance. In the last year Stockport has repeatedly been lauded as one of the best places for first time buyers, retirees and to invest in, as well as getting a name-check in the Sunday Times’ coveted Best Places To Live annual round-up.
Adam Higgins, from Capital&Centric, said:
“Weir Mill is such a historic site but it was in need of some major TLC. Since day one, our mission has been to restore and repurpose the stunning heritage buildings and create a destination neighbourhood that furthers Stockport’s standing as one of the best places to live and spend time. Not only are we well underway with delivering more design-led homes at a key brownfield site, we’re also on with creating outdoor hangouts and food and drink spaces that will all be open to the public and help draw a crowd into the town centre.
“Reaching the highest point is a massive moment and a visible sign of the change that’s happening here. It’s a privilege to give a glimpse of what’s happening on site given much of it has been shrouded in scaffolding for months. It really is a testament to the level of collaboration underway with the Council and MDC – with a shared desire to see Stockport create an identity it can be proud of for years to come.”
More than 150 people are now working to deliver the project, with significant focus on preserving and celebrating the original features of the historic Grade II listed landmark.
Cllr Mark Hunter, from Stockport Council, said:
“This is a huge achievement and testament to the drive and ambition of everyone involved to bring this historic building back to life and greatly improve this area of the town centre, providing much needed, good quality homes.
“The pace at which change is happening across the town centre is quite staggering, with work at the nearby Transport Interchange and new urban park due for completion next year, it’s a really exciting time for Stockport.”
Eamonn Boylan, Interim Chair of Stockport MDC, said:
“The structural completion of the new residential blocks for the Weir Mill development puts us another step closer to delivering the 4,000 new homes that our regeneration masterplan will achieve.
“The latest chapter in our town centre’s £1billion transformation, Weir Mill is setting a new benchmark for brownfield regeneration. One that celebrates and reinvigorates the town’s industrial infrastructure and heritage for a new age, in turn delivering essential new homes, creating a new cultural and leisure district and enhancing connectivity in the town centre.
“As we look ahead to 2024, which will see the completion of a major new transport hub alongside amenities and new public realm, Stockport is undoubtedly on track to becoming one of the best connected and most liveable towns in the UK.”
Once complete the £60m Weir Mill project will feature:
Chestergate and King Street West: A new gateway into the town centre, with ground floor spaces for independent shops, cafes or delis and plenty of lush greenery.
Water Front: A new public space looking out across the River Mersey, providing a place for riverside chilling in the evening sun.
Weir Mill East: Sensitively designed new buildings featuring a mix of homes, drawing inspiration from the site’s manufacturing history.
Weavers Square: What will become the heart of the scheme and a new destination for Stockport. The old cast iron columns of Weavers Shed are being retained to create a vibrant new outdoor space for riverside street markets, DJ sets, live music events and performing arts.
West Shed: A striking indoor space with exposed brick vaulted arches and cast-iron columns, creating a relaxed space to take your laptop, grab a coffee and while away the day.
West Courtyard: The former working courtyard to the mills, this will be a quieter, more contemplative garden space for residents and the general public to chill out, with plants, trees and secluded spaces to explore, as well as amenities for residents including rooftop terrace, BBQs and private dining spaces.