STOCKPORT INTERCHANGE 2021-24 | Celebration & Criticism Then & Now + Drone

This video is a personal celebration of Stockport's new transport interchange, which opened on Sunday 17th of March 2024. I arrived on the very first in-service bus service to use the interchange - what was it? I explored the pristine interior and got to see the bus stands, windows, doors and other facilities for the very first time.

01:20 First glimpse inside the interchange
03:35 The new interchange on its first day
04:35 Photos & videoclips of the construction 2021-2024
08:35 Five minute walk from station to interchange
09:15 View of the magnificent viaduct… and tall block
10:45 First bus in-service bus to use the interchange.

People have said it's 'only' a bus station and should not have been called an interchange, but that's wrong. The new path for pedestrians and cyclists provides a link to Stockport station. It took me less than 5 minutes to walk between the two.

The title says 'criticism', but I have no criticism of the interchange, only praise. My criticism is reserved for the tall block of flats put up directly in front of the Grade 2 listed railway viaduct. It is part of the neighbouring Weir Mill project by developers Capital&Centric. I will focus on it in another video.

On Monday the 18th of March visited the new Viaduct Park, built on the roof of the interchange. I was very impressed with it and there are great views down onto the buses.

All in all I am very impressed with the new interchange, which was designed by the Harris Partnership. The residential building that rises up from the Interchange (NOT the one in front of the viaduct) was designed by Leach Rhodes Walker.

Drone views by @Cinemaker Check out his channel for longer sections of drone shots featured in this video.




On the AidanEyewitness channel, I produce snapshots of the ongoing development of Stockport, Manchester, Liverpool and connected cities, focusing especially on new construction, renovation and renovation of heritage buildings, modern architecture in general, public transport infrastructure, future construction plans as well as questions of urban identity and the uniqueness of cities. I like to document the construction of buildings, taking images at regular intervals and mergin them into timelapse sequences.

I’ve been interested in architecture and city development since I was a child. I was doing projects on Manchester architecture in primary school. From 1997 to 2005 I produced my website Eyewitness in Manchester which documented the reconstruction of the city after the IRA bomb in photos and words. I’ve contributed photos and writing to books, magazines and newspapers.

The AidanEyewitness YouTube channel is the latest chapter, I dream of a big audience and lots of success, but there is still a long way to go! Please help me by liking, subscribing, sharing, commenting and providing some financial support, so I can fulfil my dream of producing AidanEyewitness full time.