Metro Mayor Andy Burnham helps launch Stockport scheme

The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham has taken part in a ground-breaking ceremony to mark the beginning of work on a new residential development in Stockport.Burnham was joined by Stockport Council leader, Mark Hunter for the occasion, as well as representatives of the Guinness Partnership, and Caddick Construction; developers of the site.The £26.7m development on Edward Street in Stockport’s town centre will deliver 131 new “affordable” homes. They’ll consist of one- and two-bedroom apartments, with 63 for affordable rent, and 68 intended for social rent.Burnham said: “There is an urgent need for more genuinely affordable housing and homes for social rent, not just in Stockport but across the city-region and around the country.“That is precisely why our Brownfield Housing Fund is helping to bring forward sites for redevelopment, enabling partners like Caddick and The Guinness Partnership to deliver new homes and support the renewal of our town and city centres, and it’s great to see that in action here at Edward Street.”Councillor Mark Hunter, leader of Stockport Council, added: “The Guinness Partnership are a long-standing and valued Stockport Housing Partnership Registered Provider. This latest development is the result of partners working together to bring forward much needed, affordable homes in the heart of the town centre.“This complements our ambitious plans for the town centre, which will see many more new homes created in a vibrant new neighbourhood, for people to call home and benefit from all the amenities of our town.”The 11-storey development will host a range of amenities, including over 130 cycle storage spaces, EV charging points and landscaping and public realm improvements, with planting to promote biodiversity.Caddick Construction is due to hand over the completed scheme in summer 2025.The Edward Street development has been part funded by Homes England, and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority Brownfield Housing Fund.Catriona Simons, group chief executive of The Guinness Partnership, said: “We look forward to bringing much needed high-quality affordable homes to the area, as part of Guinness’s commitment to development in Greater Manchester.“As well as 63 homes for affordable rent, we are pleased to be providing 68 homes for social rent which will help people currently on the housing register. All of the 131 new homes will be energy efficient, with an EPC rating of A or B, meaning they will be warm and affordable homes, as well as places people are proud to live.”Paul Dodsworth, managing director of Caddick Construction Group, said: “The redevelopment of brownfield land is an extremely valuable way of meeting growing demand for affordable housing, and projects of this nature – particularly those in busy town centre environments – call for a great deal of care.“Our project team, alongside the expertise of our colleagues in Caddick Civil Engineering, will ensure a high-quality project that serves the needs of the local community while causing minimal disruption to our neighbours.“To date, Caddick has brought a number of Guinness’s fantastic residential schemes to life, and we look forward to continuing our work with our valued client and to building these new homes for the people of Stockport.”Are you a social housing professional? Sign up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP to upload news stories, post job vacancies, and connect with colleagues on our secure social feed.