Celebrating 10 Years of Viaduct
Ten years ago, on a modest modular housing site on Adswood Road in Cheadle Hulme, a new kind of partnership put down its first foundations. Viaduct Housing Partnership was launched in 2016, bringing together Stockport Council and Stockport Homes Group (SHG) with a single, ambitious aim: to build more affordable homes for the people of Stockport.
A decade on, that first scheme of 14 modular homes at Cross Keys has grown into a portfolio of well over 1,000 completed properties across the Borough, with hundreds more on the way. As Viaduct marks its tenth anniversary, it's worth taking a step back to look at how far the partnership has come.
Small Beginnings, Big Ambitions
When Viaduct was formed, the housing challenge facing Stockport was one familiar to towns and cities across the country: rising demand, limited supply, and a widening gap between average incomes and average house prices. The partnership was designed to close that gap.
That first year set the tone for what was to come. Alongside the Cross Keys modular homes, Viaduct broke ground on a 59-home scheme on the former St Thomas' Hospital site on Flint Street, working with contractor Seddon to deliver a mix of shared ownership and rented apartments and houses, including homes purpose-built for disabled residents. A joint venture with Rochdale-based contractor Casey soon followed, bringing a further 60 affordable homes to the Borough. Viaduct was still finding its feet, but the direction of travel was clear.
A Decade of Development
In the years since, Viaduct's portfolio has grown to reflect the diverse needs of the Borough it serves. The partnership has never confined itself to a single type of home or a single type of resident. Grafton Street in Heaton Norris saw Viaduct deliver its first supported new build scheme - 11 one-bedroom flats for affordable rent, managed around the clock in partnership with support provider SENSE, offering a safe and settled home for some of the Borough's most vulnerable residents.
Elsewhere, Viaduct has breathed new life into forgotten corners of Stockport's industrial past. At Compstall, the former Printworks (vacant for more than a decade) has been transformed into 32 affordable homes, with the site's historic stone archway and its bleach house, the only surviving 19th-century building on site, carefully preserved alongside the new-build houses and apartments. Melford Road has brought shared ownership apartments to the market in phases, culminating in an official opening event earlier this year. And The Chimneys development picked up an industry award, a mark of recognition for the quality and design of Viaduct's work.
The scale of ambition has grown too. Viaduct's flagship scheme, the Battersby Hat Factory development in Offerton, is its largest yet with 144 homes available for affordable rent, shared ownership and market sale, created through the transformation of one of Stockport's most iconic industrial landmarks. Working with John Southworth Construction and Three Sixty Construction, Viaduct converted the two most significant structures fronting Hempshaw Lane into a new neighbourhood that sits equally close to the buzz of Stockport town centre and the calm of the Peak District.
What our customers think of Viaduct
"I just wanted to say a huge thank you to each and everyone of you in the team for being so warm, friendly and informative along my journey in buying a home for me and my children. I cannot thank you enough for all the support and making me feel very special throughout this process.
"I think in the modern world people are not always acknowledged for what they do and it's very clear that you're part of a process where you’re making such a big difference to peoples' lives and it truly does shine through with how truly caring you all are.
"From the bottom of my heart thank you."
Matthew, Viaduct Customer
I had previously owned a property, but due to changes in my circumstances I had to move into rented accommodation. While renting gave me flexibility at the time, I always hoped to own a home again. Shared ownership made that possible by providing an affordable route back onto the property ladder when buying outright was not an option. Being able to buy my home has given me a renewed sense of security, independence and pride, and the reassurance of knowing I have a place to call my own. Emotionally, it has lifted a weight from my shoulders and given me greater confidence about the future. As I plan for retirement, I take comfort in knowing I am building equity in my home and investing in my long-term financial stability, rather than facing the uncertainty that can come with renting later in life.
Sue, Viaduct Customer
I would strongly recommend a shared ownership journey. I was renting previously and wanted to be in a position where I was able to take a lower cost step onto the property ladder, due to house prices being extremely high. Shared ownership was the only way I could make this a reality, with the fantastic affordable housing scheme that Viaduct provides. The team was very approachable, efficient, informative, and supportive from the start and throughout our journey. My daughter and I are so happy and settled in our beautiful home. There are options to increase our share in the future and I hope that one day, this will be possible. There is also a real sense of community here; we feel safe, content, happy and everything we need is right on our doorstep! Thank you to our amazing family and the fabulous Viaduct Housing Partnership for making this happen.
Sally, Viaduct Customer
More Than Bricks and Mortar
What has set Viaduct apart across its first ten years isn't just the number of homes built, but the way they've been built. Every development sits across a genuine mix of tenures designed to help first-time buyers, growing families and those looking to downsize, find a route onto, or along, the property ladder. Schemes like Help to Buy and Shared Ownership have opened the door to homeownership for people who might otherwise have been locked out of it entirely.
Social value has been woven through the partnership's work from the very beginning. Every development is also an opportunity to create local jobs and support the local supply chain, and Viaduct has consistently sought out the voices of local communities to help shape its projects, from early design conversations through to construction. And because Viaduct operates on a profit-for-purpose model, any surplus generated is reinvested back into Stockport, supporting SHG’s wider work in building thriving, healthy communities across the borough.
It's absolutely fantastic that Viaduct has reached its 10th anniversary. As the current chair I'm proud of the what this valuable part of SHG has achieved over the past decade. As a group we are always striving to find new ways to deliver affordable homes and I hope Viaduct can continue to support this aim in years to come.
Alistair Chapman, Viaduct Chair of the Board
For the last 10 years, the Viaduct Housing partnership has delivered affordable homes across Stockport, supporting our residents from everything to buying their first family home, to finding a new place in their community. I'm really proud of the contribution Viaduct has made to our borough. By taking a Stockport-centric approach to development, the partnership has made real and lasting contributions to our communities, redeveloped historic landmarks, and provided much needed housing for many people.
Councillor Jake Austin
As we mark this milestone, one thing is clear the goal that brought Stockport Council and SHG together in 2016 is the same one that has been driving Viaduct for the last decade. Step by step, home by home, Viaduct has helped more people find their place in one of Greater Manchester's most exciting boroughs to live and we cannot wait to continue building a better tomorrow for the people of Stockport.
