2 Stockport Exchange completes

2 Stockport Exchange – the striking 61,500 sq ft Grade A office building at the North West’s most accessible business hub in the heart of Stockport town centre – has now completed and is ready for tenants to start their fitout.

Stockport Exchange brings forward a unique and compelling offer to occupiers; high-quality design features, which include an innovative stone façade and full-height glazing, with a clear purpose to deliver a fully-accessible working environment which promotes wellbeing and meets occupier requirements. These features further complement the existing café, retail and leisure facilities, extensive public realm, and the wider town centre regeneration.

Global chemical company, BASF has decided to base its UK headquarters at 2 Stockport Exchange, after signing to take 21,500 sq ft. The firm chose the scheme as its new home due to its unrivalled connectivity and its open and collaborative workspace to enable new and more agile ways of working, which is a core part of their Future of Work project.

The wider £145m Stockport Exchange transformation, delivered collaboratively by Stockport Council and national urban regenerators, Muse Developments, sits centrally to the council’s ambitious £1bn town centre regeneration programme. This includes a new transport interchange and the tram arriving in the town centre, which will build on Stockport’s first-class connectivity. The Mayoral Development Corporation, the first of its kind nationally – which is currently gaining momentum with the appointment of Lord Kerslake as Chair – will create a new mixed-use urban quarter with 3,500 homes and up to 1 million sq ft of commercial space. This includes the recent announcement that the historic Weir Mill will be transformed into 250 homes with ground floor retail.

Improvements to the historic Market Place and Underbanks have also created a thriving leisure destination, with ambitious plans for Merseyway Shopping Centre already underway.

Cllr Elise Wilson, leader of Stockport Council, said: “I’m so proud of what we have achieved at 2 Stockport Exchange and the fact that we have attracted world renowned businesses to the town centre is testament to its fantastic location and high-quality design.

“Businesses are increasingly seeing Stockport as a credible and desirable location and with the Mayoral Development Corporation and the thousands of new homes and business opportunities it will create, the new Transport Interchange and improvements to Merseyway, all coming to fruition in the near future, it will increase our appeal even further.”

Tom Webber, senior development surveyor at Muse Developments, said: “Working closely with our partners and the contractor, we’ve been able to deliver 2 Stockport Exchange safely and in line with guidance. The scale and shared ambition here is clear to see and we’re proud of what we’ve achieved together; while playing a significant role in Stockport’s regeneration and the partnership’s future success in the Mayoral Development Corporation.

“There are a number of key ingredients to delivering high-quality schemes; maximising the excellent connectivity; positively contributing to the place and changing the perceptions of Stockport town centre both regionally, and to a wider audience.”

Cllr David Meller, cabinet member for economy and regeneration at Stockport Council, added: “Our vison for Stockport Exchange is to attract world class businesses who are looking for high-quality office premises.”

“We knew it would be popular due to its first-class location and excellent connectivity, but its success has exceeded all expectations. The building looks fantastic and is all set for BASF moving in later on in the year.”

“Despite the current crisis, they’re joining the town centre at an exciting time and those locating here will enjoy a changing Merseyway and, once they re-open, the popular Produce Hall and Market Place. Coupled with the recent announcement on Weir Mill as part of the MDC, it’s good to see the private sector reflecting the confidence we have – and will always have going forward – in our borough.”

Marc Banks, divisional managing director at GMI Construction, said: “It has been great to work on such a significant and dynamic scheme, that has contemporized and regenerated the landscape. Working with such illustrious clients as Muse Developments and Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council to successfully and efficiently produce an office space of such high-quality is something we at GMI are very proud of.”

Once complete, the wider Stockport Exchange development will deliver up to 375,000 sq ft of office space and 28,000 sq ft of commercial floor space.

Cushman & Wakefield and CBRE are appointed as joint agents for the scheme.

For further information about the development visit www.stockportexchange.co.uk