How a struggling town ‘restored pride’ – and what could happen next
It was 2015, the Conservatives had secured power after a May general election, Queen Elizabeth II became the country's longest-serving monarch, and Sir Andy Murray clinched the Davis Cup for Great Britain.
But one thing that was not looking quite as bright was the future of high streets and town centres across the UK.
In Stockport, the town centre found itself at a crossroads 10 years ago when many of its streets were struggling to stay busy, and it started to feel 'disconnected' from what people really wanted.
The council said that businesses at the time were hesitant, investment was drying up, and momentum for the future had stalled.
But a plan was put in place to turn things around – leading to a £1bn regeneration scheme.
One of the major changes to come from 2015 was the start of work on Redrock, a £45m leisure scheme built on the former Bridgefield Street Car Park.
Opening in 2017, it brought in a 10-screen Light Cinema, restaurants, cafés, and a major multi-storey car park, aimed at giving people more reasons to hang out in the town centre.
Following the cinema, the Light expanded and opened a bowling alley and entertainment venue in 2022, alongside a cafe and bar.
"In the past 12 months we've seen a rapid increase in profitability of the business and The Light entertainment model is continuing to deliver exciting results," said Nicola Wood, business manager at the cinema. "Cinema admissions for The Light Stockport are up 10 per cent year-on-year."
Around the same time, the seeds were planted to bring massive changes to the area known as Stockport Exchange, the town's own business district.
In September 2015, work began on the second phase of the development – a joint venture between the council and Muse Developments – following its first phase.
Built next to the railway station, Stockport council said the area has become a 'thriving' hub, and now has a 115-bed Holiday Inn Express, Grade A offices, a new public square, which provides a welcoming setting for visitors arriving to the town from the station, and a padel court.
Companies based in Stockport Exchange include musicMagpie, Stagecoach, BASF and Indurant.
Simon Brownbill, partner at HURST – one of the businesses in the area – said the location offers 'excellent transport links, but without the costs and congestion of the city centre'.
With things starting to look up, the council bought Merseyway shopping centre in 2016 with plans to breathe new life into the borough's retail offering.
The former M&S building became STOK, a major office development, and above Merseyway, the Merseyway Innovation Centre, opened in 2023, providing workspace for local startups and creative businesses.
This work continued with the opening of Stockroom in May this year, turning empty shops into a place for meeting, learning and culture.
It includes an additional town centre library, children's creative play and learning space, Stockport's historical archives, a café bar, Stockroom Studios, and areas to relax and connect.
The opening weekend saw record-breaking visitor numbers, and the trend has continued with more than 250,000 visitors passing through its doors in the first 10 weeks, the council said.
Transport improvements were also brought in.
Stockport Interchange opened in 2024, transforming a 'tired' bus station into a hub with connections across the town centre, to the train station, a new pedestrian and cycling route, and a two-acre park on the roof.
The interchange is also set to play a key part in the future arrival of Metrolink to Stockport, which was recently confirmed by the government and has been a longstanding project for leaders in the borough.
Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) was set up in 2019 to lead the work going on around the town centre.
Since then, more than 1,200 new homes have been built with another 1,500 in the pipeline, the council said, along with 170,000 sq ft of Grade A office space.
The historic Underbanks, once described as 'unloved and in a state of decline', has become one of the trendiest parts of Stockport and Greater Manchester.
It has its own independent shops mingled between bars, bakeries, vintage outlets and creative spaces, and benefitted from a £7m investment by the council and National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Stockport Market is also a key part of the town, with traders recently telling the Local Democracy Reporting Service that it's getting busier all the time.
Jon Dootson, owner of Alfredo's and The White Lion, said: "Thanks to the success of my first two businesses in the Underbanks, I'm now opening a third.
"There's real energy in the area, and it's only getting better."
Events taking place in Stockport across the year are helping to boost the amount of people visiting the town.
The council said Krazy Races, Foodie Friday and the Day of Dance have drawn record crowds.
So what does the future hold?
A huge change is coming to the west of Stockport town centre after plans to build a new 'walkable' neighbourhood with up to 1,300 homes were approved, despite concerns about how this could impact views of the famous Viaduct.
Spanning eight acres, the council said it will bring new homes with a mix of tenures available, including apartments of different sizes to rent, home ownership, accessible and adaptable housing, as well as affordable properties.
The area will also get new public squares and green spaces, where people can relax and socialise, along with attracting new leisure facilities and businesses.
The MDC now wants to expand the boundary of its work to build 8,000 homes over the next 15 years, and the council said it has 'ambitions to secure new social infrastructure such as new education facilities and a health hub to support Stockport's growing town centre population.'
Council leader Mark Roberts said the work that has taken place in Stockport over the past 10 years has given the town its pride back.
"We've transformed tired and underused spaces into vibrant destinations," he said.
"We've restored pride in our historic areas, brought new homes and jobs into the heart of the town, and created the kind of place where people want to spend time.
"Everything we're doing – whether it's repurposing spaces, supporting high streets, or attracting investment – is about creating a Stockport that works for everyone.
"While the transformation is focused on the town centre in delivering the most sustainable development, this work is important to the whole borough in building a strong sense of place and pride.
"There's still work to do, but we've shown what's possible when local leadership stays ambitious, determined, and focused on the long term."
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