Council plans revamp for former Debenhams store

Stockport Council is exploring plans to refresh the former Debenhams store in the town centre after the department store brand fell into administration during the Covid-19 pandemic.

While plans are currently in development to build a state-of-the-art hospital on the site, the Council hopes to update the appearance of the building and bring it back into use for the five to ten year interim period.

In a report presented to the Council’s Economy and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee on 16th June, it was revealed that the property has failed to attract any commercial interest since the Debenhams branch closed in May 2021. As a result, the Council is proposing an £850,000 investment in the property to update its exterior in line with other regeneration schemes in the town centre, as well as a reconfiguration of the interior to accommodate multiple smaller occupiers and other more flexible uses for the site.

During the meeting of Stockport Council’s Economy and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee, proposals secured cross-party support from councillors and a decision on whether to move forward on plans will be decided by the Council’s Cabinet in their first meeting on Tuesday 28th June.

Stockport Council acquired the Debenhams store in 2012 and has been followed up by the purchase of other town centre assets including the wider Merseyway Shopping Centre in 2016. An updated Debenhams store will sit alongside improvements currently underway to the shopping precinct, as well as the nearby transport interchange now under construction.

Following the closure of the Debenhams store in May 2021, Stockport Council and local NHS services revealed initial plans for the construction of a new modern hospital on the site. Proposals have been submitted to government to secure funding for the project that aims to relieve pressure on Stepping Hill and provide accessible healthcare close to transport links in the heart of the town.