Stockport District Centres drive local success ahead of national average

While Stockport is experiencing the UK’s largest town centre regeneration, success is also unfolding in its district centres across the borough.

Local high streets in Stockport are evolving into vibrant hubs and destinations in their own right, reflecting the borough’s bold regeneration ambitions.

Backed by investment from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Stockport Council has committed thousands of pounds to enhance safety, improve engagement, and support the vitality of high streets. Initiatives such as upgrading lighting, adding greenery, and targeted regeneration projects are helping create welcoming environments that bring communities together. 

Stockport boasts eight centres – Bramhall, Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme, Edgeley, Hazel Grove, Marple, Reddish and Romiley – all with distinctive character, offering their own community groups for residents to get involved with, alongside a line-up of events, particularly ahead of the festive season.

Despite challenges facing the UK high street, every district is experiencing higher footfall than the national average and lower-than-average vacancy rates. In all areas, footfall has increased in the past year while vacancy rates have dropped or remained steady. 

Cllr Micheala Meikle, Stockport Council cabinet member for economy, regeneration and skills, said:

“The work taking place in our eight district centres is about restoring pride, fostering independence, and creating thriving places where people want to live and spend time. 

“While every centre is unique and faces different challenges, our district managers are working closely with traders, community organisations and residents to prioritise improvements that matter most locally.  

“We’re pleased to see our vacancy levels remain lower than the UK average and that our footfall figures are improving year on year. We are determined to keep it this way as part of our long-term commitment to supporting resilient high streets.”