Stopford House

This newly built, striking seven-storey concrete office block is home to Stockport Council.

The main entrance is on Piccadilly and a two storey high porch allows access through to the Stopford Piazza.

The building will provide accommodation for the council for many years to come and plans for future operations include using the location as a centrepiece set for a futuristic TV series called Life on Mars…

Meanwhile in present day 2007, Alison Farthing, Tourism Development Manager for Stockport Council explains: “Stockport has a range of historically significant architectural buildings - including those of Medieval, Tudor, Georgian and Victorian origins as well as modern day office blocks like Stopford House.

The council worked closely with North West Vision to identify Stopford House for the filming of Life on Mars. We have also helped to secure the use of other buildings such as mills, warehouses and a Victorian bandstand as locations for other TV and film dramas."

Close to the M60 motorway, the A6 and central Manchester, it’s not difficult to see why Stockport and specifically Stopford House was chosen as the main location for the time-travelling cop series.

Joe Cairns, Location Manager’ for Life on Mars adds: “Stopford House proved to be a very memorable location during our filming, we used the back of the building as the main police station exterior and its unique look helped inspire the design of the CID office.

“Numerous scenes were filmed on the piazza which we dressed as the police station car park with 70s cars, bicycles and lampposts providing a busy city centre look. We also dressed a stairwell in the central corridor as the CID reception where Phyllis (the formidable desk Sergeant) books in the villains.

Joe explained that some of the vital scenes were filmed on the roof of Stopford House to make use of its fantastic views of Greater Manchester and the Peak District.

Joe says: “The council's staff were relaxed and very helpful; they became accustomed to the frequently bizarre demands of filming a period drama series in a working municipal building.

Life on Mars fans have been paying visits to Stockport to have their picture taken outside Stopford House, much to the bemusement of the security staff and council workers.”

For filming enquiries in Greater Manchester contact North West Visions Film Liaison officers:

Susan Williams 0161 244 3450
Bobby Cochrane 0161 244 3449