Stockport Pyramid

The Pyramid was intended to be the 'signature building' within a larger development scheme that originally included multiple pyramid-shaped buildings.[3] Sources vary on the number of pyramids that were originally planned, some state two further pyramids would be built,[4] whilst others state four more pyramids were planned.[5]

Construction was completed in 1992.[1] During construction, the developers went into administration and the building was repossessed by The Co-operative Banking Group, who had financed the development.[6] Between the completion of the building in 1992 and the occupancy by the Co-operative in 1995, the building was empty.[7] The building was occupied by The Cooperative Bank from 1995 until they relocated to NOMA in Manchester city centre in 2018.[8]

Several failed development projects near the site, including the pyramid's own unoccupancy immediately after construction and the Cooperative Bank's near-collapse in 2013,[9] led to a superstitious consideration that the site was 'cursed'. The curse was announced as 'lifted' when nearby developments resumed in 2005 with the sale of office blocks in the surrounding business park.[10]

The surrounding business park has been referred to as 'The Stopfordian Valley of the Kings',[5] Kings Reach,[3] or Kings Valley.[11]

In 2019, the building was bought by the Saudi Arabian investment company Eamar Developments after being advertised for sale in the summer of 2018 for around £4.5 million.[12] Eamar Developments have planned to let the site as office space after refurbishment.[13]

The pyramid has been described as 'avant-garde', 'aspirational' and an 'incongruous structure' compared to the industrial era buildings commonly found in Stockport. Contrary to it commonly being referred to as a pyramid, the Manchester Evening News claims that the building's 'shape is more accurately described as a ziggurat'.[5]

• pyramidstockport.com/