Building of the Year 2025 Shortlist: Stockroom
Stockroom is a flagship community-led transformation in the heart of Stockport. Once a series of under-used retail units in the Merseyway Shopping Centre, it has been reimagined as a warm, accessible and vibrant 51,000sqft cultural and community hub. Spread across two floors, it brings together a modern public library, a children’s creative zone, Stockport’s heritage archive, flexible studios and event spaces, exhibition areas and a café that encourages people to meet, learn and connect.
Stockroom is a transformative project that demonstrates the power of design shaped by community voices. From the outset, Stockport Council, AEW Architects and the wider team worked collaboratively to ensure local people meaningfully influenced every stage of development. Workshops with library teams, educators, archives staff, young people, artists, carers, residents and accessibility advocates helped define the layout, atmosphere, materials and character of the space. This inclusive, participatory approach created a shared vision and ensured the building genuinely reflects local needs and aspirations.
A key theme emerging from this engagement was the importance of inclusivity and intergenerational use. The design responds directly to this, creating a place where everyone feels welcome and able to participate. New facilities - including a Changing Places provision, a fully refurbished suite of public WCs and a dedicated multi-faith space – support the diverse needs of visitors, while the wider layout promotes comfort, creativity and connection for all age groups and abilities.
The project was made possible through a £14.5m contribution from the Future High Streets Fund. This investment enabled the transformation of under-used retail units into a vibrant, modern civic destination. Since opening in May 2025, Stockroom has exceeded all expectations, welcoming more than 500,000 visitors to date and becoming a major driver of footfall within the town centre.
The impact was immediate. Within the first three months alone, Stockroom attracted over 250,000 visitors who borrowed 20,000 books, enjoyed more than 15,000 coffees and participated in a lively programme of 190 events involving nearly 4,000 people. Today, the building hosts essential public services – including birth registrations – alongside quiet study zones, creative rooms, family areas, heritage displays and flexible studios for performances, workshops and community gatherings. These spaces have rapidly become catalysts for learning, wellbeing, intergenerational activity and social connection.
Stockroom also contributes significantly to the wider town centre. By reactivating previously vacant units, it has boosted footfall, supported surrounding businesses and re-established a civic anchor within Merseyway. Its reuse-first strategy has dramatically reduced the carbon and waste impacts typically associated with demolition and new construction, while durable materials and adaptable planning ensure longevity and resilience for future generations.
At its heart, Stockroom is a model for sustainable, community-led regeneration. It provides Stockport with a shared “living room” - a place that is welcoming, familiar and open to all - and demonstrates how thoughtful reuse can breathe new life into town centres. Its social impact, environmental responsibility and community-centred design make it a standout contender for the Greater Manchester.
Join us for the Property and Construction Dinner on 5th March 2026 where we will be announcing the winner!
