Construction of a new rooftop park above Stockport Interchange – the redevelopment of the former bus station by Transport for Greater Manchester and Stockport Council – has reached its next milestone with the planting of the park’s first trees.
While the distinct oval structure of the podium park is already in place, further landscaping work is underway to transform the area above the new bus interchange into a two-acre public greenspace in the heart of the town centre.
The project is committed to complying with Stockport Council’s 2:1 tree planting policy, with a minimum of two trees planted for each one removed. This includes the planting of 95 new trees in the new park and approximately 400 more across the wider development and town.
In addition, the park has an in-built ‘blue-roof’ drainage system that will capture and store rainwater to allow controlled run-off into drainage outfall and watercourses, mitigating any flood risk and to further supplement the sustainable features within the development. These include an array of PV solar panels generating renewable energy both within the interchange and on the residential building roof.
Key stakeholders and local leaders marked this latest step in the Interchange’s development by gathering to plant one of the first trees going in at the new park.
Cllr Mark Hunter, Leader of Stockport Council, said: “The Interchange is a key part of our borough’s £1billion transformation and the park will become a real asset for our town centre.
“The new park will be a fantastic new green space in the heart of our town – a space that everyone will be able to use.
“It was a great moment to be able to plant one of the first trees in the park and once they are established, they will have a positive impact on the area.
“I’m really looking forward to revealing more details in the upcoming months.”
The Interchange project, due to open in 2024
