Parliament has approved the expansion of Stockport's Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), tripling its boundary to cover the entire town centre. 

The green light allows the MDC, the body responsible for the regeneration of Stockport's town centre, to expand its scope and accelerate plans to bring new jobs, homes and public spaces to the area. 

By 2040, 8,000 new town centre homes will be built, with a mix of affordable housing, private rent, and homes for sale, designed to suit residents at all stages of life. 

The expanded area, which has tripled from 130 acres to 410 acres, includes underused sites east of the A6 corridor (Merseyway Side). 

The expanded boundary will support the 15 year plan for Town Centre East Strategic Regeneration Framework (TCESRF), which sets out plans for three new connected neighbourhoods, a riverside park, along with improved walking and cycling links to connect different parts of the town centre. 

Since being set up in 2019 by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, the MDC's initial powers spanned the 130-acre brownfield site dubbed Town Centre West. 

Transformations made in the last five years include 1,200 new homes either complete or on site, and £600 million in private investment secured during the first phase. 

The MDC has also helped deliver on projects such as the award-winning Stockport Interchange, and the transformation of the historic Weir Mill. 

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Weir Mill in Stockport town centre (Image - Nub News)

The next project will be Stockport 8, a new neighbourhood near the viaduct that will bring around 1,300 homes to the site. 

Cllr Mark Roberts, Leader of Stockport Council, said: "This is a landmark moment for Stockport as we break the mould with our ambitious regeneration plans. 

"We've been moving faster than prior legislation allowed, which underscores the scale of our vision for the town. 

"Parliamentary approval to expand the MDC is a clear vote of confidence in what we've achieved so far and in our proven approach to town centre regeneration. 

"Momentum is only building, with others now looking to our model as a blueprint for what successful town centre regeneration can achieve. 

"With the boundary covering the whole town centre, we can accelerate delivery of new homes, jobs and opportunities that benefit residents across the borough." 

"With the boundary covering the whole town centre, we can accelerate delivery of new homes, jobs and opportunities that benefit residents across the borough.  

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"We're incredibly proud of what's been achieved already, and even prouder that we're only just getting started. We're Unstoppable Stockport." 

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, also added: "Stockport has been a genuine trailblazer for the Mayoral Development Corporation model. 

"It is showing what can be achieved when you work together with partners and use innovative powers to drive forward transformative projects and revitalise a town centre. 

"With backing from Parliament to expand the MDC, Stockport is continuing to break new ground for urban regeneration. 

"This is a blueprint for towns up and down the country to follow – and it's why this model is being rolled out to other places across Greater Manchester as well, so more areas can benefit from new homes, jobs, investment, and good growth." 

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