Stockroom Stockport Shortlisted for Insider North West Property Awards 2026
Stockroom Creative and Community Hub, Stockport
SpaceInvader is proud to see Stockroom, Stockport recognised as a finalist in the Commercial Development of the Year category at the Insider Media North West Property Awards 2026. This shortlist reflects not only a significant project milestone but also the collective ambition of the project team, collaborators, and forward-thinking clients working to reshape the future of town centres across the UK. With the awards taking place on Thursday 14 May 2026, we look forward to celebrating alongside peers and partners driving excellence across the North West property sector.
Located in the heart of Stockport Town Centre, Stockroom is a £14.5 million cultural and creative hub commissioned by Stockport Council and funded through the Future High Streets Fund. The 30,537 sq ft project transforms previously underused retail units within the Merseyway Shopping Centre into a vibrant, multi-purpose destination, demonstrating how adaptive reuse can unlock new social and economic value in a post-retail landscape. Moving beyond traditional high street models, the scheme introduces a more resilient and inclusive approach that prioritises culture, learning and community engagement.
SpaceInvader’s interior design reimagines the space as a welcoming and accessible environment that supports a wide range of users and activities. The result is a layered and flexible destination that brings together a contemporary town centre library, Stockport’s historical archives, children’s creative play and learning environments, exhibition and performance spaces, and a café and social hub operated by local business Mercado. Informal areas for relaxation and connection are woven throughout, encouraging longer dwell times, repeat visits and broader community use, helping to re-establish the town centre as a meaningful civic destination.
Stockroom is more than a cultural venue; it acts as a catalyst for regeneration. By revitalising vacant retail space, the project contributes to increased footfall, supports surrounding businesses and introduces more diverse uses into the high street ecosystem. For Stockport Council, the impact is both immediate and long term, strengthening high street resilience, enhancing access to culture and learning, supporting local economic growth and reinforcing civic identity and pride.
John Williams, Founder and Director at SpaceInvader, explains, “The Stockroom project reflects our ongoing belief that interior design has a vital role to play in town centre transformation. By moving away from a traditional, retail-only high street model, councils like Stockport are creating places that serve people in more meaningful and lasting ways.”
Collaboration was central to shaping Stockroom’s identity. Working alongside Boardroom Consulting and Studio DBD, the project integrated community input directly into the design process, inviting local people to contribute ideas and creative responses. This approach helped deliver a space that feels authentic to Stockport, both visually and culturally. The interior draws on the town’s red-brick heritage and its proximity to open countryside, balancing durability with warmth through the use of FSC-certified timber, recycled materials and carefully considered acoustic solutions to create an environment that is both robust and welcoming.
Flexibility underpins the long-term success of the space, with every area designed to support a dynamic programme of activity. From quiet study zones and reading areas to performances, exhibitions and community events, the design enables the space to evolve alongside local needs. Dual-level library provision, a dedicated children’s library, archive and curated exhibition areas, and multi-use studios and event spaces for hire all contribute to a model that supports both community engagement and sustainable revenue generation.
Being shortlisted for the Insider North West Property Awards is a testament to the power of collaborative, people-focused design. As Cllr Dan Oliver, Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture at Stockport Council, notes, “SpaceInvader’s thoughtful and inclusive approach has helped create a truly welcoming, accessible and inspiring environment for everyone. Their work has been key in creating a space that reflects Stockport’s identity and brings our communities together through culture, creativity and learning.”
Stockroom represents a shift in how town centres are conceived, moving beyond retail-led models to create multi-functional, community-driven destinations that deliver lasting social and economic value. Projects like this demonstrate how design can reinvigorate underused assets, support local economies and foster stronger, more connected communities.
Project team: Stockport Council I AEW I CBRE I Boardroom Consulting I Studio DBD I Kier Construction I Tier Consult I SI Sealys I Mike Sian Studio
Photography: Stockport Council