£530m transport masterplan
BOSSES have revealed a 12-year-vision for Stockport railway station with plans for a £530m transformation.
The ambitious plans feature a new public square, car park and improved passenger facilities which would serve as the ‘ultimate southern gateway to Greater Manchester’.
They also include pedestrian links to the new transport interchange and the proposed Metrolink extension, should its route not take trams into the station.
There is also the possibility of a ‘tram train’ to Manchester Airport, which would create a direct connection to HS2.
The masterplan has been put together by the council in partnership with the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation - the body driving regeneration in ‘Town Centre West’.
It has been released in tandem with a plan setting out the infrastructure investment needed to support the town’s sky-high ambitions.
Officially titled the Stockport Station Growth Prospectus, it states: “The station itself will be a 21st century thriving multimodal transport hub, with capacity and facilities suitable for all travellers, recognising the different needs of different personas.
“Interchange between rail, Metrolink, bus and active modes will be seamless, and station facilities will be outwardfacing, supporting the surrounding communities.”
Dependent on funding the transformation will take place in four stages over the next 12 years.
Phase One (next three years) will cost between £100m and £200m and focus on connectivity improvements. Projects include: Replacement of Thomson Street Bridge to improve access to and from the railway station.
Replacement of Greek Street roundabout. This carries the road over the rail line, but the current structure includes a central support which limits railway capacity and is too narrow to allow for any future Metrolink extensions running parallel with the railway.
New Stockport bus interchange (due to open in 2023).
Pedestrian links between the interchange and the station.
Phase Two (four to six years) will cost £50m-£100m and is called the ‘station phase’. Projects include new station overbridge to improve access to platforms and improved station facilities.
Phase Three (seven to nine years) will cost £100m-£150m and has been dubbed the ‘transit phase’. Projects include a new station car park and tram-train from Stockport to Manchester Airport.
Phase Four (10-12 years) will cost £80m and is known as the ‘Edgeley’ phase. Projects include the creation of a public square.