Construction has started on two blocks of affordable apartments just outside Stockport town centre.

Based on Chestergate, near the junction with King Street West, the £41m development will comprise two-eight storey buildings.

They will contain 59 one-bedroom and 89 two-bedroom apartments, all of which will be designated as affordable.

The apartments will be available on either a rent to buy or social rent basis.

Rent to buy reduces rent by 20 percent of the market rate for at least five years, making it easier for tenants to buy their home later on.

The buildings have been designed to "reflect Stockport's industrial heritage", Stockport Council has said. "The development blends characterful architecture with sustainable design."

There will also be a green pedestrian link to the River Mersey included in the build.

A CGI of how the 148 new apartments on the corner of Chestergate (near King Street West) could look (Image - Great Places)

Managing the build is developer Great Places, whose application to build the apartments was approved in 2024.

It comes not long after Platform - a similar development of affordable homes - opened just up the road on King Street West.

Platform, based at Harrison Court, features 73 rent-to-buy apartments, half of which are now occupied.

After well over 1,000 enquiries, the apartments are expected to be fully occupied by November.

Great Places hosted visitors to both Platform and Chestergate on Monday (8 September), including Stockport MP Navendu Mishra and council leader Mark Roberts.

Great Places hosted a visit to their Platform site this week (Image - Stockport Council)

Mr Mishra said that high-quality affordable housing is "a critical issue for people in Stockport".

"I am proud to support projects like Chestergate and Platform that deliver this type of housing", he added.

"I was delighted to visit these Great Places' developments to see first-hand the work being done to regenerate our town centre while giving local people access to secure, high-quality places to live."

Cllr Mark Roberts also said: "We're proud to be delivering the largest town centre regeneration in the UK, and affordable developments like this show that Stockport is for everyone – with both rent to buy and social rent showcased today.

"We're making sure people at every stage of life can afford to call our town centre home."

Alison Dean, Chief Executive of Great Places, added: "We were delighted to host Mr Mishra and showcase the progress we're making in delivering high-quality, affordable homes in Stockport.

"Platform and Chestergate are key developments that support the regeneration of Town Centre West and reflect our commitment to creating vibrant, inclusive communities through strong partnerships."

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