Weir Mill, a major new neighbourhood in Stockport, has reached a milestone this week, with its towering 14-storey apartment block reaching its full height.
The £60m transformation of the area beneath the viaduct in the town centre is being taken on by social impact developers Capital & Centric, who plan build 253 design-led apartments, as well as green outdoor space, independent bars, restaurants and shops.
Capital & Centric are already receiving interest from indie operators for the commercial spaces, ahead of kick-starting their hunt in the new year.
Weir Mill will bring life back to historic mill buildings that date all the way back to the 1700s.
It will form a major destination in Stockport’s Town Centre West masterplan, a 130-acre regeneration district which will include 4,000 new homes, local amenities, green spaces, workspace, and transport improvements.
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To celebrate Weir Mill reaching its full height, members of Stockport Council and the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation, along with local young people from the not-for-profit Regeneration Brainery bootcamp, were invited for a tour of the site.
Views from the top of the tallest apartment block look all the way across Stockport and beyond to the Peak District, with the towers of Manchester city centre visible too.
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The view from Weir Mill. Credit: The Manc GroupWeir Mill in Stockport. Credit: Capital & CentricWeir Mill nowWeir Mill now
The development is being built right on the banks of the River Mersey and beside the city’s iconic red-brick viaduct, a stone’s-throw from the train station.
Stockport has in recent years been named as one of the best places to buy your first home, 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.
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“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.”
Weir Mill in Stockport. Credit: Capital & Centric
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.
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Weir Mill in Stockport. Credit: Capital & Centric
“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.”
The topping out ceremony at Weir Mill. Credit: Capital & CentricThe topping out ceremony at Weir Mill.
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.
Inside the £1.65m iconic former orangery for sale in the grounds of a grand Lancashire park
Emily Sergeant
An iconic former orangery built for a renowned industrialist nestled in the grounds of a grand Lancashire park is currently on the market for £1.65m.
Now, we know this one is a little off patch for us… but honestly, it truly is a unique masterpiece worth hyping up.
Before we all get carried away though, it goes without saying that the vast majority of us won’t have the money to buy this house just sitting in our bank accounts, but if like us, you’ve love looking at houses you can’t afford in places you’ll probably never live, then allow us to introduce you to this absolute beauty.
This is The Orangery – set within the distinguished grounds of Lancashire’s Woodfold Hall, the property effortlessly blends heritage charm with refined modern living.
Located in the sought-after area of Mellor near Blackburn – which is ideally placed for being close by to a wide range of amenities, good local schooling options, and transport links to surrounding towns and cites, all while still enjoying easy access to nearby countryside – The Orangery is bathed in natural light and framed by elegant architectural detail, all offering a rare sense of calm and exclusivity.
Estate agents say this is a home that feels both ‘indulgent and inviting’, and is perfect for those who appreciate character and privacy… and a touch of grandeur, of course.
Built all the way back in 1820 as an orangery to Woodfold Hall for renowned cotton magnate and industrialist Henry Sudell, few homes currently on the market in the North West offer such architectural distinction as this.
This is The Orangery inside the grounds of Lancashire’s grand Woodfold Park / Credit: Fine & Country
This ‘remarkable’ home occupies a private, gated plot that extends to over two acres within one of the region’s most prestigious country estates, and is defined by its elegant stone elevations, soaring ceilings, dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows, and countless other period features, all while having been tastefully updated by the current owners to make it fit for modern-day living.
Some of the property’s stand-out features include the striking curved reception hall, the open plan kitchen-diner bathed in natural light from three elevations, and several reception rooms with French doors leading out into the expansive gardens.
There are also five spacious bedrooms on the first floor – with the principal suite boasting bespoke built-in furniture and a dedicated dressing room.
But, it would be fair to say, it’s the outside where this home truly comes into its own.
While the interior is stunning, it’s the outside where this home truly comes into its own / Credit: Fine & Country
The gardens are nothing short of ‘enchanting’, according to estate agents – offering a mature landscape of manicured lawns, stone pathways and terraces, and trees, shrubs and floral boarders that wrap gracefully around the property.
The property also has a sweeping driveway that offers ample parking for multiple vehicles, and has access to a substantial garage.
As mentioned, The Orangery is on the market for £1.65 million with national estate agency label, Fine & Country, and if you’re keen to take a look around for yourself, then get in touch. Otherwise, you can just have a look around on Rightmove instead here.
Featured Image – Fine & Country
Property
Manchester City reveal new state-of-the-art women’s football facility
Danny Jones
Manchester City Football Club has finally unveiled its brand-new women’s football facility as their home base moves across to another section of the ever-growing Etihad Campus.
Costing more than £10m in total redevelopment costs, the new training ground and all-round squad hub aims to set a new industry standard.
First announced back in January 2024, the state-of-the-art complex was revealed in full this Wednesday, 13 May, being met with a strong reception from the senior women’s squad and Man City supporters in general.
To help celebrate the opening, City Football Group (CFG) Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak travelled into the city to be one of the first through the doors.
Spanning well over 170,000 feet, the multi-million-pound facility marks one of the most significant investments in female football history.
With sector-leading technology installed in virtually every corner of the space, club captain and Euros-winning Lioness Alex Greenwood told Sky Sports, “It’s incredible […[ We’re very lucky that we get to call this home. The building is absolutely brilliant and has everything that we need.”
Going on to express her excitement over this being her new place of work, she mentioned that all City Women stars had input over things to include in the plans and how they wanted it to look, as did members of the wider staff.
Not just now an ‘elite level performance centre’, but where these talented young sportswomen will be spending so much of their time, she and her teammates believe they got it spot on, declaring that “this is taking it to a whole new level.”
She also noted that at least one of the rooms is the one where the squad watched the Arsenal vs Brighton draw, which sealed their first league title in a decade, so there’s already been some great memories made there.
Here’s a quick fly-through of the impressive achievement…
— Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen) May 13, 2026
The new digs are also much more than just a training ground; according to the club, besides player preparation and recovery and minimising injuries, with a world-class gym as well as other strength and conditioning facilities, it includes dedicated medical, rehab and physio spaces.
Hydrotherapy and advanced recovery areas have also been built, with MCWFC’s circular dressing room at the heart of the whole building.
Writing on the club website, Man City Women Managing Director, Charlotte O’Neill, said: “After years of planning, designing and constructing, we are proud to open our new world-class space that we believe offers some of the very best facilities in women’s sport in the UK.
“This building is about so much more than bricks and mortar; it is about creating an environment where our players can thrive, where standards are set at the very highest level, and where the current squad has everything it needs to continue to compete for and win silverware.
She went on to say, “It is also a clear statement of our ambition to continue to develop and attract the very best talent in world football.” It’s also worth noting that this will further free up other EDS (elite development squad) and youth academy outfits to make use of existing buildings.
Khaldoon echoed a similar sentiment, adding that this new addition to the wider Etihad Campus “reflects the scale of our ambition for Manchester City Women and our long-term belief in the future of the women’s game.”
It looks to be a pretty staggering upgrade; there’s no doubt about that.
As for the rest of the campus, along with the soon-to-open on-site hotel, we also now have more details regarding the accompanying Medlock Square that is also set to launch in tandem.
Daisy Jackson -
29th November 2023 
