Empty shops along once bustling high streets have become a familiar sight across the country.

With shopping trends changing and prices for many products going up, some high streets and local centres have faced an uphill battle to keep customers coming back.

But in Stockport, plans are being made to give high streets a boost, which could help to keep shops full and streets busy.

A review on the future of district and local centres in Stockport, led by Reddish South Cllr James Frizzell, has put forward a number of ideas for improvement.

Visits to areas across the borough revealed that traders wanted access to more information about local events and roadworks in their community, as well as developing better relationships with landlords to reduce the number of empty shops.

The review highlighted that some felt high streets are dominated by similar types of businesses, and needed more variety, and that schemes such as local markets and street art are important to keep shoppers coming back.

More shop variety and better street art are among the new proposals (Image - Nub News)

It also suggested setting up a new online information portal to act as a 'one stop shop' for businesses, with updates on local events, services and advice offered by the council, and support for new traders.

During a meeting on March 19, Stockport's council leader and cabinet team agreed that the council should look into the suggestions and discuss the findings at a future meeting.

Cllr Frizzell explained that the suggestions would not be "a quick and easy fix" for all the problems facing high streets, and would need "deep partnerships" to form between businesses, local groups, residents, and the council, to make progress.

He added: "The importance of business collaboration was highlighted throughout the review, and suggestion that consideration be given to local vision meetings across the borough."

Much of Stockport's regeneration efforts has taken place around the town centre in recent years, where a £1bn project is ongoing to transform the area.

But council leader Mark Hunter said the town hall is focusing on all corners of the borough.

Council leader Mark Hunter has said the town hall is focussing on all parts of the borough (Image - Nub News)

"So much of how Stockport has made its name in recent years is about our town centre transformation, we are extremely proud of that," he added.

"But I've said many times, Stockport is greater than the sum of its parts, and it is so important that we never think Stockport is just about the traditional town of Stockport.

"It is about Reddish, the Heatons, and Marple and Cheadle and Cheadle Hulme, Bramhall, all of those places that make us the great borough that we are."

Outside Stockport town centre, projects are taking place to improve communities, such as the £20m Marple Hub development, supported by a grant from the capital levelling up fund.

This will give the town a 25-metre, five-lane swimming pool, with a spectator seating area and a changing village, as well as a 60-station fitness suite and two multi-purpose fitness studios.

The work includes a replacement library and health clinic facility, a community room, café, and meeting spaces.

Stockport council's work to support local businesses and communities is supported by two district centre managers, who work to help with organising local events and initiatives.

Cllr Hunter added: "Compared to some others, we are frankly not doing too badly.

"If you look around some of our district centres and the number of empty units, there are other districts not very far away where there's a whole lot more empty shop units, so it is something that we need to keep on top of."

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