The Light on board for Stockport scheme
CINEMA group The Light has signed up as the anchor tenant for Stockport’s Bridgefield development.
The 80,000 sq ft scheme off Great Egerton Street – adjacent to Debenhams – will include a nine-screen cinema, eight restaurants, two shops and a 400-space multi-storey car park.
The seven-acre site currently consists of a car park and six retail units which will be demolished. Ambitious £500m plans for the site were drawn up by Lend Lease but abandoned fours years ago when the market went sour.
The council is leading the development and has already agreed to provide a £43m loan.
Cllr Patrick McAuley, member for regeneration and economic development at the council, said: “This is another hugely significant step forward in the regeneration of Stockport Town Centre.
“The quality of the Light Cinemas’ offer to the public is fantastic and we are delighted to welcome them to Stockport. Their decision demonstrates Stockport’s appeal as a location and the growing confidence in our borough. And we encourage other businesses to find out more about further opportunities within the Bridgefield development.”
Keith Pullinger, a director of The Light, said: “We are very excited to have committed to this great cinema development in Stockport. We see this as a focal point to support the town centre regeneration and we are determined to deliver a high quality cinema experience for all our customers. Around 35 new jobs will also be created as part of this initiative and we would like to thank Stockport Council for creating this opportunity.”
A planning application is expected later this month.
