Grand Central buy signals intent, says Goddard

THE £15m purchase of the Grand Central site in Stockport signifies the council’s intent in leading the transformation of the town centre, according to leader Cllr Dave Goddard.

Goddard told TheBusinessDesk.com said that it had already received “lots of interest” from potential development partners who could bring forward a £100m scheme of prime office space, a hotel and car parking.

“We”ll be issuing an OJEU notice shortly,” he said, which will spark a process that will lead to the selection of a preferred bidder.

Goddard said that he envisaged any development would greatly improve the link between its train station – the busiest outside London for first-class bookings on the West Coast main line – and the main A6 thoroughfare.

“I want that wow factor to be created when you step out of a station like you get at Sheffield that you’re in a place where things are happening. At the moment, you come out of Stockport station at the back of two sheds with big cooling fans belonging to the cinema and the bowling alley.”

He also believes there are opportunities for the station’s owner, Network Rail, to develop first class waiting rooms and other facilities to improve the station.

“Let’s make the experience better than walking out onto a car park.”

Goddard expects Greater Manchester Pension Venture Fund to begin work on the adjacent Royal Mail sorting office bought last year, which it is also planning to convert into offices and a hotel. “That’s a big piece of real estate and that opens up the whole area. Its around a quarter of the town centre.”

He said the council also remained in contact with Bradford & Bingley, which owns the Merseyway shopping centre about improvements that could be made to underpin the value of their asset.

“Obviously, we’re not looking to buy that having just spent on Grand Central. But we are trying to say to people, if you won’t do it, we will.”

He added that the centre’s owners had been encouraged by three new lettings within the past three months, including one to Primark.

“Alright, it’s not Harrods or John Lewis but it create a lot of footfall and lots of towns would love to have one,” he said.

Simon Bedford, head of economic development at Drivers Jonas, which is advising the council on its development strategy, described the compulsory purchase as “a bold move”.

“They’re essentially putting a massive effort into making sure that the scheme happens and they need to be applauded for their will,” he added.