Cabinet members have approved two key infrastructure proposals which could change the face of the town centre.

Chaired by council leader Cllr Mark Hunter, the cabinet approved revised planning permission for Stockport Exchange - which would allow more buildings to be constructed in the area - and the selling off of Fletcher Street car park for housing. 

Stockport Exchange 

Approval for an 'update and refresh of the Stockport Exchange masterplan', means that the existing planning application for the site will be revised. 

This revision will incorporate a 65,000 sq. ft office development, and will leave room for phases six, seven, and eight of Stockport Exchange. 

It means that the gleaming office and retail district just outside the station will continue to grow. 

It is estimated that planning fees will come to £876,469. This will be shared 50/50 between the council and its development partner, Muse.

The development of Stockport Exchange will continue with cabinet's approval (Image - Alasdair Perry)

Preparation of the planning application is expected to begin around September of this year, with a view to submitting plans in March 2024.  

Approval of the planning application would take place around August/September 2024.

Cllr Colin MacAlister, cabinet member for economy, regeneration & housing, said: "This is a continuation of the great work that is happening in Stockport.

The successes of the previous phases - we can all see those. 

"The continued success of the scheme is attracting occupiers, and is an important part of our economic plan."

Cllr Julian, cabinet member for finance and resources, added: "We have that really long-term horizon that shows that this isn't just about things looking shiny for a while, this is about sustainable benefits being delivered for the people of Stockport, which is just fantastic."

Fletcher Street Car Park

In a similarly significant development, the cabinet also approved to 'dispose' of the site at Fletcher Street (formerly the Ritz Cinema car park). 

The land will be sold off for housing, to meet demand across the borough. Cllr MacAlister described the move as an "important scheme for delivering new homes in the town centre". 

A report argues that redevelopment of the site would address an environmental 'eyesore', making 'a visual improvement to the current derelict buildings on the adjacent site'.

In a meeting of the Economy, Regeneration & Climate Change Scrutiny Committee on Thursday 15 June, Robert Goulsbra, head of development and regeneration at Stockport Council, said: "The aspiration is for a high-quality residential development.

Land at Fletcher Street will be sold off for housing with cabinet approval (Image - Google Maps)

"The site will contribute to delivering housing numbers in the town centre and also in the borough."

Disposal of the site would generate an unspecified 'capital receipt' for the car park, which garners around £50,000 per year for the town hall over recent years.

Mr Goulsbra also argued at Scrutiny that the council would still have some control over the land, even after it was sold. 

"The sale will be on the basis of a 250 year development lease", he said. 

"The advantage of that to the council as landowner is it allows an element of control over deliverability of the site; if the preferred purchaser didn't deliver the site, there would be an opportunity to terminate the lease and that would come back to the council. 

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