Work is underway to build Stockport’s new green light-industrial park, Cheadle Eco Park, which will secure up to 200 high-quality jobs and set exemplar standards for sustainable construction across the North West.
Located on Bird Hall Lane in Cheadle, the cutting-edge £25m scheme will deliver 115,000 sq ft of multi-unit light-industrial development. The project comprises six state-of-the-art units ranging from 8,374 sq ft to 43,800 sq ft, designed to meet the needs of modern, sustainability‑focused businesses.
From the outset, Cheadle Eco Park (CEP) has been designed to achieve Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) Outstanding – the highest sustainability rating. Only developments that score at least 85% against BREEAM’s strict environmental standards achieve this, placing CEP among the top 1% of non‑residential buildings in the UK for sustainability performance. This level of certification is particularly rare in the light‑industrial sector, where such high environmental standards have historically been difficult to achieve.
The scheme will set a new benchmark for low‑carbon light-industrial development, featuring a low‑embodied‑carbon structure, with the design shaped by whole‑life‑carbon assessment from the earliest stages. By incorporating carefully selected low‑carbon materials and technologies, the scheme significantly reduces its environmental impact during construction, aligning with the emerging UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard and supporting Stockport Council’s commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth and achieving carbon neutrality for the borough by 2038.
CEP’s environmental credentials also place it at the forefront of the UK’s transition to green technologies. As part of its pioneering approach, it incorporates market‑leading sustainability technologies, including air‑source heat pumps, natural ventilation and smart energy‑efficient lighting systems, helping the development target an EPC A rating. The seven-acre site, previously made up of older, inefficient industrial buildings, is being transformed through significant environmental enhancements, including new tree planting, biodiverse landscaping, swales, a rain garden for sustainable drainage, and EV charging for all car parking spaces. In addition, the redevelopment brings major improvements to active‑travel links, enhancing connectivity.
In a UK first at this scale, CEP, designed by AEW Architects, will also become the largest purpose‑built industrial and logistics development in the country to use a structure constructed entirely from sustainably sourced timber. This innovative choice of materials significantly reduces embodied carbon compared with traditional steel‑frame construction, reinforcing the project’s status as one of the most environmentally ambitious schemes in the UK.
As a light-industrial park, the area is designed for businesses that carry out lower-impact industrial activities, intended for operations that don’t produce significant noise or pollution. The scheme’s modern, flexible units will give innovative and fast‑growing businesses the space they need to expand locally, helping retain talent and nurture home‑grown enterprise. By attracting new occupiers in clean‑growth industries, the park will encourage further private investment and boost the wider supply chain, with local firms benefiting from increased demand for goods and services. As more employees spend time in the area, surrounding businesses, such as shops, cafés and services, will also benefit from increased footfall. Together, these benefits mean CEP will not only deliver a state‑of‑the‑art light-industrial destination but also support long‑term economic growth in Stockport.
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Supported by a £4.4million grant from the Government’s Town Fund, the scheme, scheduled for completion in March 2027, is central to the Town Investment Plan. Network Space Developments is acting as Development Manager on the project on behalf of the landowner, Stockport Council, following planning approval in June 2024. Caddick Construction Limited has been appointed as the main contractor while CBRE and B8 have been appointed as joint letting agents to market the new units.
Cllr Micheala Meikle, Cabinet Member for regeneration, economy and skills at Stockport Council, said: “The start on site marks a major milestone in delivering this ground‑breaking, environmentally exemplary development. Cheadle Eco Park is a key part of our ambition to create a modern, sustainable employment zone that brings real benefits to our communities. This scheme will create up to 200 new jobs, providing a huge boost to the local economy, while setting a new standard for sustainable industrial space and leading the way for the region.”
David Saville, North West Managing Director at Caddick Construction, said: “Breaking ground at Cheadle Eco Park marks a hugely important moment not just for Stockport, but for the future of sustainable industrial development across the region. As the main contractor, we’re proud to be bringing forward what will be one of the UK’s greenest industrial parks, built to exceptional environmental standards and designed to support the next generation of low-carbon businesses. We’re pleased to be working alongside Stockport Council and Network Space Developments to create a high-quality, future-proofed employment space that will generate jobs, strengthen the local supply chain and leave a lasting positive legacy for the borough.”
Stephen Barnes, Managing Director for Network Space Developments, said: “We’re delighted to now be on site delivering such an environmentally leading, multi-let industrial and logistics scheme for Stockport Council.
“The development is in many ways unique through its use of structural timber frames and low carbon technologies to target the very highest possible BREEAM sustainability rating. The scheme will also provide much-needed multi-let industrial and logistics space in a prime location, and we hope to attract occupiers who can benefit from the project’s sustainability credentials.
“We’ve appointed a first-class North West-based delivery team which will further boost the local economy and supply chain, as well as raise the benchmark for sustainable development in the region.”
Brian Bradley, Chair of Cheadle Towns Fund Board, said: “Work starting on Cheadle Eco Park marks a major step forward in delivering one of the UK’s most advanced and environmentally ambitious light‑industrial developments. This scheme represents a significant investment in Cheadle’s economic future, bringing high‑quality jobs, supporting clean‑growth industries and creating a modern, sustainable employment destination that will benefit the town for many years to come. The Board is proud to see this transformative project move into delivery.”