Hopes high for opportunity to transform Stockport town centre

Transformation in Stockport could be taken to the next level when Greater Manchester leaders meet this Friday, January 11.

It comes as Stockport Council works with the Mayor, Andy Burnham, to develop Greater Manchester’s first Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), which will look to unlock development sites and accelerate the speed of transformation within Stockport’s town centre.

Key to this is Stockport Council’s vision for Town Centre West, an urban village that would adapt the town centre to meet changing demands nationally.

As a walkable neighbourhood in the heart of Stockport, it’s hoped that Town Centre West will become Greater Manchester’s newest, greenest and coolest affordable urban neighbourhood.

It will provide a choice of homes and workspace where residents and business will have access to public transport and be among the best connected in the region.

And as Stockport’s popularity as somewhere to live grows, the council is doing all it can to maximise development of new homes on brownfield sites across the borough, with developments like the Former Sorting Office site on the A6 already planned to start on-site soon.

This means Stockport has significantly reduced the amount of land it need to release for development in the Green Belt.

At the same time the council wants to bring new homes across all tenures, and all of the supporting amenities, into the town centre, giving more people the chance to come and live in the heart of Stockport to enjoy everything on offer.

Cllr Kate Butler, Stockport Council’s cabinet member for economy and regeneration, said: “We need to bring new homes into Stockport for the future, but are doing all we can to protect our borough’s green spaces.

“The Mayoral Development Corporation will help drive these developments, shaping the future of our town.

“As these plans for the MDC develop, we’d like residents and businesses to have their say for how it would bring change to our town centre.”

If consultation for the MDC is given the go-ahead by leaders at the meeting on Friday, residents and businesses will be able to have their say on these documents.

An online consultation will also be launched asking for views on the MDC, as well as writing to all of the businesses in the Town Centre West area.