Stockport Council’s vision to develop Stockport Town Centre West and create a new urban ‘village’ community in the heart of the town centre is set to move forward when the final plans are presented at next Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, 12th November.
The regeneration of Stockport Town Centre West will create a new urban neighbourhood of 3,500 new homes, 1m sq ft of employment space, a regenerated area alongside the river Mersey, green public spaces and create new jobs in the heart of the town centre.
Following the launch of the first draft Strategic Regeneration Framework – SRF – earlier this year in July, a public consultation period over the summer attracted responses from 487 interested parties plus a number of written submissions from landowners and public bodies.
The initial plans were positively received: 82% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the SRF plan to develop Stockport Town Centre West into an “exciting new urban village with a mix of residential and employment uses’ as part of the creation of the Mayoral Development Corporation.
Comments received and general feedback have been considered as part of the final masterplan which is being delivered in partnership with Homes England, GMCA, and TfGM, and the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation and include the important issue of affordability and social housing: “50 per cent affordable housing across the entirety of development in the area over the lifetime of the MDC is accepted, although there are challenges around delivering this on early schemes with viability issues until values have risen.”
Moving forward, further details are also required around engaging with local businesses, public transport and integration, among other issues.
Subject to Cabinet approval on Tuesday, the final SRF will form the basis of a Supplementary Planning Document for the Town Centre West as part of the new Local Plan.