The Grade-II listed Turner’s Vaults that sits below St Petersgate Bridge is set to be transformed into a flexible event and performance space, while neighbouring 18 – 19 Market Place will become a creative workspace, as well as a food and drink destination.
Project funding comes from a £2.63m award from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport’s Cultural Development Fund. Stockport Council was one of only seven councils to receive money from the fund’s second round.
To bring its vision to life, Stockport Council has begun the procurement process for the two key elements of the project: Turner’s Vaults and 18-19 Market Place.
The council is looking to hire an architect, cost consultant and contract administrator, as well as an MEP engineer. These three roles will form the project’s design team with the architect as lead consultant.
The vaults have been vacant for over 60 years, and now with the recent regeneration of the area, have been snapped up to contribute to the burgeoning Underbanks scene that features a huge line-up of independent food, drink and creative retail traders.
Historically, the vaults have been used for storage, but the council’s plans include a 5,000 sq ft flexible performance and events space with a capacity of 500 that offers a variety of day-to-night activities, from workshops to digital art installations to live performances.
Under the Stockport Creative Campus plans, 18-19 Market Place would become a centre for sustainable innovation that features a green-focused food and beverage spot on the ground floor alongside basement levels and workspaces above.
While 18-19 Market Place was most recently used as a studio space, the grant funding will go on to enhance the building to incorporate sustainability. It will continue to offer workshops and studio spaces, as well as an exhibition space on the upper floor.
