Stockport Council chiefs allude to future regeneration plans for the town centre

Stockport Council Leader Cllr Elise Wilson and Chief Executive Caroline Simpson have teased at upcoming regeneration projects for the town centre in an interview with Place North West.

Speaking to the publication, the pair indicated that there was a pipeline of projects in the offing as the town centre continues and expands upon its £1 billion regeneration ambitions.

Upcoming schemes including previously announced plans for a new hospital on the former Debenhams site on the A6, as well as further development as part of the Mayoral Development Company’s (MDC) transformation of the Town Centre West area.

Caroline Simpson, who took on the post of Chief Executive earlier this year, confirmed the MDC would ‘launch a major next phase’ in the coming months. She also underlined that the council would continue its approach to regeneration that considers all aspects of development: across housing, commercial property and healthcare schemes.

Cllr Wilson echoed Simpsons sentiments, and highlighted Stockport’s ambitions as representing a potential blueprint for government to achieve on its levelling-up agenda. She suggested that Project Hazel, Stockport’s plans for a £500 million town centre hospital could be a pilot for government to invest in health outcomes in other communities.

Cllr Wilson also addressed the backlash that has been received in response to ambitious projects in Stockport that have been criticised for failing to preserve heritage assets in the town, and likely to be a key talking point in upcoming local elections. The regeneration of Weir Mill was approved despite concerns over the scheme’s impact in obscuring the historic viaduct, while work is soon to begin to move library services away from Central Library. The council leader however defended her record, arguing that the council’s intervention and regeneration programme had ensured the future of not only the 18th Century Weir Mill for future generations, but also the former St Thomas Hospital, as well as its £8 million Underbanks investment.

Cllr Elise Wilson and Caroline Simpson’s full interview with Place North West is available to read here.