Stockport pushes the boundaries of regeneration with MDC expansion

Stockport town centre’s regeneration has hit a new milestone as its Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) is one step away from expanding, tripling its boundary in a UK first. 

The move, approved by Greater Manchester Combined Authority on Friday following a recommendation by Mayor Andy Burnham, is now set to be legally formalised pending Parliamentary approval. 

The UK’s largest town centre regeneration is about to get bigger 

This bold step means Stockport MDC will be able to supercharge development across 410 acres, adding 280 acres in the east of the town centre to the 130 acres in the west, where development has already taken shape. Stockport Council believes this unprecedented expansion sets a new standard for urban renewal, signalling that the town’s momentum is only accelerating. 

As part of the next chapter, the council is doubling down on its commitment to deliver high-quality housing to suit all stages of life, raising its target from 4,000 to 8,000 new homes across the town centre in the next 15 years.  

Since launching as a delivery vehicle for regeneration in 2019, Stockport MDC has delivered: 

• 1,200 homes either complete or on site, with another 1,500 in the pipeline. 
• £600 million in private investment.  
• 170,000 sq ft of Grade A office space at Stockport Exchange – the town’s very own business district. 

Other key achievements include: 

• The completion of the state-of-the-art, multi-award-winning Stockport Interchange with its two-acre park. 
• The transformation of the historic Weir Mill into a vibrant new neighbourhood, featuring 253 apartments, green spaces, and leisure areas – set to be completed in spring 2026. 
• In partnership with housing group Great Places, the recently opened Platform development offers 73 stylish apartments for Rent to Buy, while construction has begun at Chestergate – a £41 million development set to bring even more affordable and social rent homes to the town centre.   

The next phase, in partnership with Muse and ECF, will deliver a further 1,200 sustainable homes at the new Stockport 8 neighbourhood, alongside several public squares, all designed with sustainability and community at its heart. 

The MDC continues to drive Stockport’s growth as part of the wider £1 billion regeneration programme led by the council – the largest town centre regeneration in the UK – which has earned national recognition from being named the Sunday Times’ best place to live in the North West, to accolades as one of the UK’s top places to retire, buy a first home, or enjoy independent shopping. 

The expansion milestone follows the recent approval of the Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) for land in the east of the town centre, which sets out an ambitious vision for 4,000 new homes, a brand-new secondary school, a modern health hub and more green spaces, including a riverside park.  

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:

“The change that Stockport has seen in recent years is plain to see – and the town keeps going from strength to strength. It is a pioneer of the Mayoral Development Corporation model, offering a blueprint for urban regeneration that the whole country can look to.

“Now we’re ready to see Stockport’s game-changing MDC expand across the whole town centre, delivering more sustainable homes and public space for the whole community.”

Cllr Mark Roberts, Leader of Stockport Council, said:

“We’re breaking the mould in Stockport with our bold regeneration plans. There isn’t current legislation that allows us to keep growing at a pace that our ambition would like to see, and I think that says everything about that positive vision for our town.  

“We’ve taken derelict brownfield sites and turned them into thriving communities, with thousands of new homes on the way, a brand-new school, health hub, and more green spaces where people can spend time and enjoy what our town centre has to offer. 

“Expanding the MDC is the next step in our journey to building a brighter future in Stockport that benefits everyone across the whole borough. It’s a future where town centres work for people again, where regeneration delivers real value, and where councils lead from the front. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved in a short space of time and we’re just getting started.”