Keady Construction appointed for £150m No1 Knightsbridge BTR in Stockport 2026

Key Points

• Amstone Ventures has appointed Keady Construction as the main contractor for a £150 million build‑to‑rent (BTR) scheme in Stockport town centre, known as No1 Knightsbridge.
• The development will be built on the former Sainsbury’s site off Warren Street, a prominent brownfield plot in the core of the town.
• The scheme comprises three residential blocks ranging from five to 15 storeys, delivering a total of 588 flats.
• The mix will include 295 one‑bedroom flats, 270 two‑bedroom flats, and 23 three‑bedroom flats, combining both BTR and private‑sale homes.
• The project was first launched in 2021 and received full planning approval in January 2026.
• Construction on No1 Knightsbridge is scheduled to begin in Q1 2027 and is expected to take approximately two and a half years to complete.
• The scheme will be delivered in two phases:
  • Phase one (Blocks A and B) will deliver 484 flats.
  • Phase two (Block C) will bring forward the remaining 104 apartments at a later date.
• Keady Construction is part of the O’Halloran & O’Brien Group, a Kent‑based construction and development group.
• The project is one of the largest single‑site residential schemes in Stockport town centre and is part of wider regeneration efforts around the Warren Street and Stockport Market areas.

Stockport(Manchester Mirror)May 19, 2026– Keady Construction, part of the O’Halloran & O’Brien Group, has been confirmed as the main contractor for the £150 million No1 Knightsbridge build‑to‑rent (BTR) scheme in Stockport town centre, following the selection of the Kent‑based firm by developer Amstone Ventures. Work is slated to start in Q1 2027 on the former Sainsbury’s site off Warren Street, with completion expected around two and a half years later, according to reporting by Place North West on 18 May 2026.

The 588‑flat scheme will be built across three residential blocks, stretching from five to 15 storeys, and will replace the old supermarket building with a mixed‑tenure residential quarter combining rented and owner‑occupied homes. Under the approved layout, the development will offer 295 one‑bedroom flats, 270 two‑bedroom flats, and 23 three‑bedroom flats, with units split between BTR and private‑sale tenures, reflecting current market strategies aimed at catering to both long‑term renters and first‑time buyers.

How was No1 Knightsbridge approved and what is its timeline?

As reported by Place North West, the project was first launched by Amstone Ventures in 2021 as part of a broader masterplan for Stockport town centre, with the former Sainsbury’s site identified as a key regeneration parcel. The scheme secured full planning permission in January 2026, clearing the way for the appointment of Keady Construction as main contractor ahead of the scheduled Q1 2027 start.

The construction timeline anticipates that the project will take around two and a half years from commencement to practical completion, placing substantial residential output into the market by late 2029, assuming no major delays. The phased approach splits the scheme into Phase one (Blocks A and B), which will deliver 484 flats, and Phase two (Block C), which will later add the remaining 104 apartments, allowing Amstone to manage cash flow and market absorption over time.

Who is Amstone Ventures and what has it said about No1 Knightsbridge?

Amstone Ventures is a private development and investment company focused on urban regeneration projects in medium‑sized UK towns, and Stockport forms part of that strategy. The company has positioned No1 Knightsbridge as a flagship project in the town, seeking to respond to both housing demand and the need for higher‑quality, modern accommodation in the town‑centre core.

While the Place North West report does not quote Amstone spokespeople at length, it notes that the firm has been working with the O’Halloran & O’Brien Group strategically to secure a contractor with experience in large‑scale, multi‑storey residential developments. The emphasis has been on selecting a contractor capable of delivering a complex, high‑density scheme on a constrained brownfield site while maintaining build quality and programme discipline.

Why is Keady Construction chosen for this £150m project?

Keady Construction, operating under the O’Halloran & O’Brien umbrella, is a Kent‑based construction contractor with a track record in multi‑storey residential and mixed‑use schemes across the South East and increasingly in the North West. Its appointment as main contractor for No1 Knightsbridge signals that Amstone Ventures is relying on a firm familiar with off‑site‑oriented delivery methods and high‑rise cladding and logistics systems.

The developer has aligned with Keady at a point when uncertainty around labour supply, material costs, and building‑control standards has increased, meaning the choice of principal contractor is especially critical for programme stability. By selecting a contractor already embedded within a larger group structure, Amstone can share risk across procurement, design management and long‑term maintenance, which is seen as central to the viability of a £150 million BTR scheme.

What is the layout and scale of the No1 Knightsbridge development?

The No1 Knightsbridge scheme will occupy the prominent former Sainsbury’s site off Warren Street, a central location close to Stockport town centre retail, transport links, and the local market quarter. The site’s urban position means the three‑block form will be visible from multiple vantage points, with the taller 15‑storey element likely to become a minor landmark in the skyline of the town‑centre core.

Within the overall 588‑unit figure, the distribution is:

• 295 one‑bedroom flats targeting single professionals and couples.
• 270 two‑bedroom flats aimed at families and sharers.
• 23 three‑bedroom flats intended for larger households or those seeking more space.

Of these, a portion will be designated as build‑to‑rent, which will be retained by an institutional or private investor rather than being sold on the open market, while the rest will be sold as private‑sale homes, feeding into the local owner‑occupied market.

How will the No1 Knightsbridge scheme fit into Stockport’s wider regeneration?

The appointment of Keady Construction for No1 Knightsbridge comes amid broader regeneration activity in and around Stockport town centre, including other residential and mixed‑use schemes. For example, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council has previously highlighted major housing projects in areas such as Stopford Park and the Fletcher Street neighbourhood, which together aim to add hundreds of new homes and modernise under‑used or derelict sites.

The Warren Street–Market area is specifically earmarked for intensification, with councils and developers seeking to increase residential density, improve pedestrian connectivity, and reduce empty retail and office stock. In this context, No1 Knightsbridge is not an isolated project but a central node in a wider regeneration framework, designed to bring more residents into the town‑centre core and support the sustainability of local shops and services.

What is the background to this development?

The No1 Knightsbridge BTR scheme evolved from Stockport’s post‑2016 regeneration strategy, which prioritised the reuse of brownfield and redundant retail sites to address housing shortages and rejuvenate declining town‑centre areas. The former Sainsbury’s supermarket off Warren Street had been identified as a prime candidate for redevelopment due to its size, central location, and proximity to public transport, including Stockport railway station and bus corridors.

In 2021, Amstone Ventures introduced the No1 Knightsbridge concept to the market, outlining a multi‑storey residential quarter that would combine rented and private‑sale stock while contributing to the town’s density and vibrancy targets. Over the following years, the project progressed through the local planning system, with Stockport Council examining the scheme’s impact on traffic, heritage, and housing need before granting full planning permission in January 2026.

Parallel to No1 Knightsbridge, the council has also advanced other major housing schemes, such as the Stopford Park development and the Fletcher Street regeneration, which together form part of a broader £350 million Stockport town‑centre investment programme. These projects collectively signal a shift in Stockport’s development pattern, moving away from single‑storey retail and office buildings towards mixed‑use, higher‑density, and people‑focused environments.

What are the likely implications and predictions for different audiences?

For local residents and potential tenants, the 588‑unit No1 Knightsbridge scheme is expected to expand the choice of modern, purpose‑built flats in Stockport town centre, particularly in the one‑ and two‑bedroom segment. This could ease pressure on existing rental stock and, if let at market rates, may contribute to a more stable private‑rented sector, though it will not directly address affordability issues for low‑income households unless income‑related lets or social‑housing partnerships are introduced in parallel schemes.

For home‑buyers and first‑time purchasers, the private‑sale component of the development will add a small but noticeable number of new‑build flats into the local market, potentially competing with other recent developments in the town‑centre and surrounding areas. This may influence pricing dynamics and buyer expectations around finishes, amenities, and proximity to transport and retail in the short to medium term.

For investors and BTR operators, the appointment of Keady Construction and the size of the £150 million project underline continued appetite for institutional‑backed rental housing in secondary towns like Stockport. The scheme’s phased structure and mix of BTR and private‑sale units offer a model for managing risk and cash‑flow, which could encourage similar schemes on other brownfield sites in the North West.

For local businesses and the town‑centre economy, the influx of several hundred residents into the heart of Stockport may support demand for nearby shops, cafes, and services, aligning with the council’s goal of creating a more lively, 24‑hour urban environment. However, the success of this in‑situ spending effect will depend on the mix of tenants, the quality of public realm around the site, and how well the scheme integrates with wider walking and cycling routes through the town‑centre core.

For planners and local‑authority officials, the project represents a test case for delivering large‑scale residential towers on constrained brownfield plots while balancing housing‑need objectives, design quality, and infrastructure capacity. Lessons from the project’s build‑up period, including traffic‑management plans, construction logistics, and community‑impact mitigation, are likely to inform future approvals for tall buildings in Stockport and similar towns