Timing plan for £1bn Investing in Stockport programme

Stockport Council have published the timing plan and delivery schedule of projects included in the 5 year £1 billion regeneration programme of Stockport – Investing in Stockport. 

It is estimated that Investing in Stockport will bring at least 5,000 new jobs and 1,100 new homes to Stockport as well as improved transport links, new public spaces, shops and leisure offers.

Stockport Exchange – a new gateway to the town centre.

A £145 million modern business district comprising 50,000 sq. ft. high quality, Grade A offices,  115 bed Holiday Inn Express hotel  and Sainsbury’s Local store  with excellent retail and leisure facilities and car parking, all set around extensive high quality public realm.

The office development is completed and negotiations already underway for 12,500 sq ft; the 115 bed Holiday Inn Express hotel is set to open on 19^th December with Sainsbury’s ready to open in January 2017.

The new town centre gateway includes public areas, the new taxi rank which opened earlier this year along with multi-story car parking.

A new drop-off zone at the rail station will open later this month.

Stockport Exchange

Redrock Stockport – due to open November 2017

Redrock Stockport is a £45 million, 75,000 sq ft leisure and retail development in the heart of Stockport town centre including a 360 space multi-storey car park.

Redrock will enhance the town centre’s leisure offer, and anticipates attracting 000’s of new visitors to Stockport town centre. New public squares are being created encouraging visitors to visit other areas of the town providing a significant boost for all town centre businesses.

Light Cinemas are the anchor tenant complemented by Zizzi, Pizza Express and Gourmet Burger Kitchen bringing popular and quality restaurants to Redrock.

Discussions are also underway with other brands looking to open at Redrock Stockport.

Work on the installation of the two bridges is set to take place in January/February 2017. One of the bridge will link the spiral ramp to the car park and the other will link the car park to the Merseyway car park (Debenhams roof top).

Market Place and Underbanks – rich in local heritage

The historic Market Place and Underbanks is an important part of Stockport town centre; the Council wants to see this area of the town centre fulfil its potential as a vibrant hub for restaurants, specialist retailers and the creative industries.

A number of successful events – Foodie Friday, Teenage Market, Vintage Market and the Stockport Fringe Festival – have been held in the Market Place aimed at bringing visitors and a vibrancy to the area.

By attracting new businesses, restaurants and events into the Market Place and Underbanks, the number of visitors coming to this area of our town centre will increase, stimulating the economy in this area helping to rejuvenate this important area of our town centre.

This is a continuous programme of support and investment including a proactive marketing communications campaign (in conjunction with Stockport Market traders) encouraging residents and visitors to Stockport Town Centre to ‘Discover Stockport Market Place’.

The Allotment Vegan and Where The Light Gets In have both opened restaurants in the area over the past few months. Both offer a unique and high quality dining experience are receiving high levels of bookings, bringing new audiences into the Market Place.

Market Place Europe Limited have been contracted to provide interim management solutions on at Stockport Market, offering extensive market experience and knowledge.

The opening hours for Stockport Market have been extended in order that the diverse range of stalls are open for longer to allow shoppers to come and enjoy the Market. In the week before Christmas opening hours will be extended further too.

Town Centre Access Plan – completes 2020

The Town Centre Access Plan is an ambitious plan which will improve access within Stockport town centre for all (regardless of how they travel)  and ease congestion for buses and general road traffic.

The investment in transport will tackle congestion within Stockport and remove barriers to movement between town centre areas making it easier for residents and businesses to access the jobs and opportunities being created throughout Stockport.

The plan will:

• Improve access to and from the M60 motorway and routes to the A6
• Make it easier and more attractive to walk, cycle and use public transport in and around Stockport.
• Provide highway and public realm improvements associated with key development sites in the town centre including Redrock, Aurora and Stockport Exchange.
• Improve linkages between the town centre and the bus and train stations.
• Include highway improvements to the east of the town centre along St Mary’s Way and Hempshaw Lane, including highway widening at key points.

Work on a number of Town Centre Access Plan schemes has been completed including:

• The opening of new pedestrian and cycling routes.
• Highway improvements on key routes and junctions such as King Street West, Heaton Lane Roundabout, Belmont Way and the A6.
• The installation of a new foot/cycle bridge on St Mary’s Way which will replace the existing footbridge.
• Improvements to cycling facilities, for example on Belmont Way and Wood Street;
• Public realm improvements on Station Road/ Stockport Exchange and along Prince’s Street (first section of paving is now open), transforming areas of the town.

Works are ongoing across the town centre including:

• The widening of St Mary’s Way which will improve the flow of traffic along one of Stockport’s busiest routes.
• Right turn off the A6 as part of the enabling works for the Redrock Stockport development.
• Highway and public realm works associated with Aurora, Redrock and Stockport Exchange.

Merseyway Shopping Centre – acquired in April 2016

Stockport Council acquired  Merseyway Shopping Centre in April 2016 and intends to make a significant investment in updating and improving its current infrastructure and facilities. Key to this is ensuring a wide range and mix of shops are open – a number of new lettings and lease renewals have been completed seeing stores that had been sitting empty re-open, bringing Merseyway’s void rate down to just 6.5%.

New stores have opened in Merseyway for the first time, including quality menswear retailer DCM Menswear; Forever Love offering a wide range of home fragrances and seasonal occupiers such as Calendar Club. In addition many tenants such as New Look, Next, Ann Summers and Roman Originals have signed new leases committing their future to the centre.

Stockport has been highlighted as one of only five North West town centres enjoying growth in retail numbers over the past six months.

Aurora Stockport – a £12million, 145,000 sq. ft. modern industrial park in Cheadle Heath, alongside the M60 expected to create 240 new jobs locally and create many opportunities for residents and local companies.

Work began on site in June 2016 with the first units expected to be available from mid 2017.

Stockport Rail Masterplan – working to secure funding 

A masterplan has been launched by Stockport Council to regenerate Stockport rail station.

Stockport station welcomes over 3.5 million passengers a year. The masterplan includes redeveloping the concourses; better access to platforms via a new footbridge; direct and improved links with car parks, transport interchange, the town centre making it easier for passengers to access all on offer locally.

Estimates predict that the redevelopment of the Station and the surrounding area could see between 1,800 and 2,000 new jobs created in Stockport.

A6 Manchester Airport Relief Road – due to complete autumn 2017

The £290 million A6 to Manchester Airport Relief Road Scheme – 10km, 2-lane dual carriageway from the A6 near Hazel Grove via the 4 kilometres of existing A555 to Manchester Airport and the link road to the M56.

The A6 MARR scheme will improve connectivity, reducing levels of local congestion and ensuring that local employment and business opportunities are within easy reach for all.

Timescales:  Work on the scheme has begun on site and it is anticipated that the road will be open to traffic in autumn 2017. 

Dedicated webpages www.stockport.gov.uk/investingingrowth will have timely and relevant information available.