Stockport bids for Portas Pilot status
STOCKPORT Council has launched a bid for grants of up to £100,000 to become a ‘Portas Pilot’.
The council has teamed up with town centre businesses, Merseyway Shopping Centre, market traders and community members in a bid to be one of the 12 towns picked to trial innovative new ideas to rejuvenate their local high street.
The competition was one of many recommendations made by retail consultant Mary Portas as part of her recent review into Britain’s failing high streets.
Part of Stockport’s bid involves the formation of a ‘town team’ made up of different groups aimed coming up with new ideas and improving the way the town centre is managed.
Council leader Cllr Dave Goddard said: “We will do whatever it takes to make sure our town centre is fit for the future. We want to work with local groups and businesses on a joint approach to make the town centre even better and attract more footfall.
“We’re already working hard to deliver results – demolition has started at
destination office quarter Grand Central and construction is underway at Covent Garden Village building new family homes. All of this will drive footfall into the shops.
“We want to build on this by being one of the very first Portas Pilots.”
Stockport was recently named as one of the towns in the North West with the highest vacancy rates by Local Data Company. However, GVA’s Mark Rawstron, who is also managing agent of Merseyway Shopping Centre, said: “Despite some recent misleading research, Merseyway shopping centre is a real success story in challenging times.
“Footfall for 2011 hit a record high of over 10m, with Merseyway retailers reporting positive growth sales for the year – some with increases of up to 50 per cent.
“Any extra support that Stockport can get from the Portas Pilot will be of great
additional benefit to the town centre.”
A number of other towns from around the region are also understood to be bidding for Portas Pilot status including Whitehaven in Cumbria, Kirkham in Lancashire and Rochdale in Greater Manchester.
