Regional industry website, Place North West, has highlighted successes in Stockport’s property market in a recent comment piece.
In comments made in the website’s weekly ‘The Subplot’ column, Place North West writers said the borough’s property market was placed to benefit from the lifting of ongoing lockdown restrictions, citing recent deals such as the sale of the former town centre Sainsbury’s store to developers as evidence of investors’ continued confidence. The coronavirus pandemic has also not deterred developers already involved in the town, with Capital&Centric advancing regeneration plans for Weir Mill that were announced last year. Overall, the article concluded that ‘Stockport will be a winner’ as the economy begins to reopen after lockdown.
The piece also called on Stockport Council to continue its support for local businesses to ensure economic recovery as the town’s burgeoning leisure and hospitality sector looks to reopen. The council’s plans for its ambitious £1 billion regeneration of the town centre have focused on a shift from a retail-led offering to increased hospitality and leisure space, as well as promoting urban living and high-quality commercial space to capitalise on the town’s connectivity with London and Manchester’s city centre and airport.
However, Place North West’s comments also warned of the risk involved in plans: a pandemic shift to flexible and home working, as well as the ongoing closure of the leisure sector, threaten town centres nationwide. These feelings were rebutted by Stockport Council’s cabinet member for economy and regeneration, Cllr David Meller, who explained plans for seating for restaurants and pubs in the Marketplace, proposals for a ‘Stockport Pound,’ and support for independent businesses on top of grant support already provided throughout the pandemic were aimed at helping the town through the coming easing of lockdown restrictions and reopening of many businesses.
The full article is available on the Place North West website.