Plans for Stockport 8 - a new town centre neighbourhood with 1,300 homes - were approved last week.

It will be based on an eight-acre plot of land around Stockport Viaduct, on both sides of King Street West - and yes, that's where the '8' comes from.

Existing industrial buildings on the site will be demolished to make way for the new neighbourhood.

What will the new homes be like?

The new homes effectively comprise a mix of high-rise flats and smaller apartment blocks.

They're designed with sustainability in mind - indeed, 435 of the homes are designed to achieve net zero standards, and almost all of the buildings will have green roofs.

The buildings themselves are designed to 'breathe new life' into "what was once a thriving area under the railway arches".

There will be a mix of residential properties, including build-to-rent and owner-occupier, with a range of sizes to meet the needs of different households.

A proposed street view of Stockport 8 (Image - Stockport Council)

Is it designed for existing residents or for people moving from Manchester and elsewhere?

According to Stockport Council, Stockport 8 is designed for both "existing residents and new homeowners moving to Stockport in the next decade".

With that in mind, it will contain a mixture of one-, two- and three-bedroom homes - and, as aforementioned, these will be a mix of rented, owner-occupier, and more.

The first phase of construction (2026-28) will also see 82 affordable properties built on the site.

What about parking and traffic?

Stockport 8 has been designed to be 'entirely walkable'. Indeed, a planning report for the project describes it as 'essentially for car-free living'.

However, there will still be some car parking spaces available.

This includes 15 general and seven accessible parking bays.

Furthermore, 12 other accessible bays are proposed to be laid out perpendicular to Viaduct Street carriageway, and two accessible bays and one car club bay are currently earmarked to be provided alongside Chestergate.

How Stockport 8 would look, with King Street West running through the middle (Image - Stockport MDC)

Will there be shops and other amenities as well as houses?

The plans provide for lots of commercial space, particularly in the ground-floor units of some of the apartments and flats.

This will include shops, restaurants, offices, and other local business opportunities.

In all, it comprises 1,573 sqm of space for businesses and the community.

There will also be plenty of new trees and green spaces planted, to make the area more sustainable and also more pleasant to walk around.

Further still, a new public square will be created as part of the plans, adjacent to the viaduct.

When will construction start and finish?

Stockport 8 will be built in phases.

The first phase will start in 2026, and is due for completion in 2028. The phase after that will start in 2029.

This succession of phases will continue until 2034, by which point the whole project is expected to be complete.

Another proposed view of Stockport 8 (Image - Stockport MDC)

What have people been saying?

When it came to voting to approve the plans, three councillors abstained, and eight voted in favour.

Leader of Stockport Council, Cllr Mark Roberts, said: "This isn't about old Stockport or new Stockport – it's about building a better Stockport for everyone. Stockport 8 is part of the UK's largest town centre regeneration, giving us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a place that works for families, young people and older generations alike.

"We're proud of the work the MDC has done with partners to turn underused brownfield land into a thriving, multi-purpose neighbourhood – delivering new homes, green spaces, jobs, shops and better transport. This is about making Stockport more connected, more vibrant and more sustainable, while staying true to our One Stockport, One Future vision.

"Our ambition is simple: growth that's fair, sustainable and lasting – not just bigger buildings, but a stronger, more connected Stockport that people are proud to call home."

Catherine Chilvers, Stockport MDC Managing Director, said: "We're not adopting a one-size-fits-all approach at Stockport 8 LLP, but instead, we are investing in high-quality and energy- efficient housing that offers so much more for people at all stages of life.

"The development sets the bar high for town centre living, creating a considered neighbourhood for residents along with leisure and employment opportunities, while outdoor squares, with a multitude of uses, will allow people to feel connected and enable families to grow. We're also really proud to be able to commit to delivering 82 affordable homes in Phase 1."

However, heritage concerns were raised by both Historic England and the Victorian Society about the height of the buildings.

The Victorian Society said in its representation that it 'recognises the need for housing' in Stockport, but added the work 'is considered to be unsympathetic and would result in harm to the significance of the grade-II listed viaduct.'