A number of major developments are set to complete in 2024 in Stockport town centre as Stockport Council prepares to publish its One Stockport: One Future plan to deliver on ambitions for the next 15 years.
2023 also saw Stockport named Greater Manchester Town of Culture, with further events planned for the remaining few months of holding the title. The town gained saw recognition from a range of publications that highlighted its renaissance as among the best places to live in the UK. With a number of major regeneration schemes set to complete or progress during 2024, the coming 12 months are set to be a ‘bumper year’ for the town.
The transformation of Stockport’s bus station into a new 21st century transport interchange and town centre park is due to complete in early Spring. The scheme, among the largest single projects outside London, will also bring forward nearly 200 new homes, improved walking and cycling infrastructure to connect with the railway station, town centre and River Mersey, as well as new green space, including the planting of nearly 500 trees.
Stockport Exchange, the new town centre business hub, will also be completing its fourth phase in 2024 with a high-quality 64,000 sq ft office building and a 399-space multi-storey car park. Demolition work along the A6 frontage of the development is also underway to enable future phases of the business hub that has already attracted national and international businesses such as BASF, musicMagpie, Stagecoach and ONP to Stockport town centre.
Within the Merseyway Shopping Centre, Stockroom, a new creative, learning and discovery centre and town centre library will open in Autumn, backed by £14.5 million from the Future High Streets fund, and bring disused retail spaces back into use. The former BHS building on Merseyway will also welcome a new JD Sports flagship store and Poundland in the Spring.
Schemes being brought forward by the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) to deliver 4,000 new homes in the Town Centre West area are also set to move forward this year. Capital&Centric are expected to complete 253 new apartments at Weir Mill, including 100 in the restored textile mill itself. Work is also underway on the old Stockport College site with developer Cityheart delivering 442 new homes, the first of which should be due in 2025, while Great Places Housing Group will be on site on affordable housing schemes that will bring over 200 affordable homes to the town centre neighbourhood.
Stockport MDC and the English Cities Fund will also begin a public consultation on the mixed-use Stockport 8 neighbourhood within the Town Centre West area, ahead of a full planning submission in summer 2024.
Alongside the progress on Stockport town centre’s £1 billion regeneration ambitions, in March Stockport Council will launch its One Stockport: One Future plan which will build on the success of its partnership Borough Plan. It is a call to action, focused on the future and taking to the next level changes for the next 15 years. The plan has five key themes with related objectives and goals that will have the greatest effect on how to make Stockport the best place for all residents to live happy and healthy lives. The Council Plan, to be published soon, feeds into this borough plan and highlights the Council’s priorities over the next three years.
The borough will also be continuing as Greater Manchester Town of Culture, and the next few months will mark the culmination of a fantastic year to celebrate the status. The remaining part of the programme, which will be unveiled later this month, will bring dance, music, and digital arts opportunities, and will conclude in a showcase of all that has been developed and delivered on the weekend of 8-10 March.
A key landmark will be the full reopening of Hatworks Museum to reveal a vibrant new Gallery of Hats and refreshed machinery floor in March and the opening of Stockport’s latest icon – the park at the Interchange – with programme of creative and cultural activity.
Cllr Mark Hunter, Leader of Stockport Council, said:
“We are an ambitious borough with a positive agenda for the future of all our communities. There are amazing things planned or coming to fruition in 2024. From our nationally acclaimed regeneration schemes to our continuing Town of Culture celebrations, Stockport is buzzing. I am looking forward with optimism to another great year ahead!”
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