Work is set to start on the pedestrianisation of the Market Place and Underbanks as part of the £1 billion regeneration of the town centre.
Pedestrianising these historic parts of the town centre aims to improve visitor experience for residents and businesses alike. The work forms part of a package of walking and cycling improvements for the area that was approved in December 2021 following a public consultation received the expressed support for the scheme from the community.
The new scheme will allow residents to continue to enjoy the many shops, pubs and restaurants in the Market Place and Underbank area during peak times, including the Market Hall, Produce Hall, Bistro Marc at Winters, and the Cracked Actor to name but a few, without vehicles passing by. A spokesperson for Stockport Council said:
“This scheme forms part of the ongoing work to improve Stockport town centre. It will make it more inviting and safer for people to visit and enjoy the Market Place and the Underbanks.”
Contractors working on behalf of the council will start creating the scheme from Tuesday, June 7th – following the Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend. Once complete, automatic bollards will limit access to the Market area between 10.30am and midnight, Monday to Sunday, with restrictions beginning at 7am on Friday and Saturday.
A section of Churchgate/Millgate will be closed to through traffic, which will create a traffic-free link between St Mary’s Church and the Market Place. Motorists will be encouraged to use the recently extended St Mary’s Way as a diversion route, while new signage in prominent town centre locations will make drivers aware of the road closure.
In addition, plans will see the closure of Bridge Street, Great Underbank and part of Little Underbank extended, with the new closure from 10.30am to midnight Monday to Sunday. A section of Little Underbank will become two-way for vehicles between 4pm and midnight.
The pedestrianisation scheme forms part of Stockport Council’s wider regeneration plans for the historic Underbanks and Market Place area, as well as its ambitious £1 billion regeneration of the wider town centre.
Work is also underway on structural improvements and open spaces at the Merseyway Shopping Centre, as well as on a new transport interchange, the next phase of development of the Stockport Exchange commercial district, and set to begin at Weir Mill to create a new Western gateway to the town centre, next to a major housing scheme recently announced for Town Centre West
New Greek Street bridge beams installed in just four days 
Stockport NHS finalists for ‘Chefs of the Year’ 
Stockport manufacturer expands premises