The plan for the next phase of Stockport town centre's transformation has been revealed.

The town hall is set to create a masterplan for 4,000 new homes from Wellington Road North to St Mary's Way, in an area covering 280 acres dubbed 'Town Centre East.'

Bosses behind the scheme say it will create new communities in 'high-quality mixed-tenure' homes, and mediate the borough's housing shortages.

It follows major work to the west of the town centre, which has seen the opening of Stockport's transport interchange, new offices, and a number of new apartment developments.

This includes work around Stockport train station, a scheme known as Stockport Exchange, which has attracted businesses and retail outlets to new office blocks in the town.

A total of £1bn is being invested in the transformation of central Stockport, the council says.

Council leader Mark Hunter said the transformation has been 'incredible' and will continue 'at pace.'

Stockport Town Hall (Image - Alasdair Perry)

He added: "This latest milestone will build on the great work that we have already achieved and take this exciting next phase forward.

"With thousands of much needed new homes already created, as well as the new Interchange and town centre park for residents to enjoy, the potential and vision in Stockport is unmatched."

The council has started the process of finding consultants to produce a Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) for the design.

The work to redevelop Stockport town centre is being led by Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), which was set up in collaboration with Stockport council and Homes England in 2019.

The MDC's previous chief executive, Paul Richards, recently moved across the A6 to take up the post of deputy chief executive at Stockport council in the town hall.

Stockport 8 is another of the council's projects, and forms part of the £1bn town centre investment (Images - Stockport MDC)

Eamonn Boylan, the interim chair of Stockport MDC, said it is a "truly exciting time" for Stockport.

He added: "This latest phase of regeneration will build on the success of town centre west, a redevelopment spearheaded by Stockport MDC that has underwritten the town's upward trajectory in recent years.

"In the five years since our founding, we've delivered 1,200 homes with a further 1,500 in the pipeline, attracted £600m of private investment, and opened a brand-new transport interchange and created a brand new two-acre park.

"We welcome the council's growing ambition in its plans for town centre east, look forward to working with the consultant team developing the SRF, and eagerly await supporting the project as it develops."

Alongside the plans for Stockport town centre, the council is in the process of getting sign off for its new local plan for housing.

A consultation is set to be launched in September, where residents will have the chance to share their views on a plan to build a total of 15,000 new homes by 2041, with 8,000 based around the town centre.

But the plan has faced criticism from Stockport Labour Group, who say it will fall short of what is needed to meet the borough's housing requirements.

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