Stockport Council, Transport for Greater Manchester, and main contractor Willmott Dixon have released a four-minute video showing the project’s progress over two years.

Stockport Interchange is set to open this spring on the site of the old bus station in the town centre. When the interchange opens, it will hold 18 bus stands capable of enabling 164 departures an hour. There will also be a two-acre park. CityRise, a joint venture between Cityheart and Rise Homes, are also delivering 196 apartments on the site.

Demolition of the former bus station began in 2021, with the timelapse video picking up once the site is bare. Flash forward to today and now only three sections of the interchange’s spiral ramp are left to be installed. Decorating and fit-out have begun for the interchange itself. Trees are being planted and the link between the interchange and Station Road is taking shape.

“It’s great to see the progress that has been made in transforming the bus station into a modern state-of-the-art transport interchange,” said Stockport Council Leader Cllr Mark Hunter.

“It won’t be long before residents and visitors can make use of the new facilities, walkways and cycling routes, and the unique rooftop park overlooking the town centre,” he continued.

TfGM’s head of projects group, Chris Barnes, described the interchange as a “truly state-of-the-art development that represents a landmark in the transformation of Stockport town centre”.

He continued: “Building the Bee Network in Greater Manchester is about helping people to get around and the interchange is a fantastic example of that – making it easier to catch buses and at the same time connecting them to rail through walking, wheeling and cycling routes.

“The new facility will help people to travel around Stockport and beyond and we look forward to updating people soon on when it will be open for business.”

The project is delivering more than just a new park and bus station. Willmott Dixon said that it has created 151 jobs as part of the project, enabled 56 work placements, and held 675 weeks of apprenticeship and training weeks.

“From the very beginning we’ve been determined to, not only deliver an interchange and residential development that this town can be proud of, but to change lives and create opportunities for the people of Stockport,” said Anthony Dillon, managing director of Willmott Dixon in the North.

Dillon also spotlighted the company’s Building Lives Academy programme, which helps offer employment opportunities for locals, and its work with Stockport College on supporting apprenticeships.

“We continue to support all these great organisations as well as supporting the likes of The Wellspring homelessness support charity and our friends at the Webb Lane Community Allotments,” he said.

Stockport Interchange is part of Stockport’s £1bn town centre regeneration scheme, which also includes the £250m Stockport 8.