Building work on Metrolink extensions to Stockport could start in the next four years.

That's according to Andy Burnham, who says getting 'spades in the ground' is 'possible' — but it depends on final sign-off from the government.

While rumoured for years, the extensions to Stockport - and other areas such as Heywood and Middleton - have moved forward significantly in recent weeks.

That came after Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) published its draft rapid transit strategy, which identified the extensions as priorities for the city-region. Currently, business cases are being worked on to be submitted to the government for approval, which would establish how the projects would be funded.

However, there is appetite from city-region leaders to get the extensions over the line, following the construction of the new Stockport Interchange, and upcoming 'Atom Valley' development, which will bring thousands of new jobs to Heywood and Middleton.

When asked if 'we could see spades in the ground this mayoral term' which ends in 2028 for the projects, Mr Burnham replied: "It's possible. I hesitate because it all depends on the business case being strong enough to get through the Treasury."

Andy Burnham at the Stockport Interchange, which has Metrolink capacity (Image - LDRS)

He added: "The decision is not ours, we have to get them signed off by the government. I think all of that points to a culture change over transport. Transport is the enabler for growth. It brings the growth the government says it wants — without it, you won't get the growth.

"It's about not letting these things drag on and making quick decisions. If you have got the clarity about, let's say, Metrolink coming to Stockport, you can work on the business case with the private sector to say 'how many homes will you build there', 'what will that to the economy here', that builds the business case and gets it through the Treasury process.

"It's possible, is the answer. But it requires change in the way Whitehall works."

He was speaking after a meeting of northern mayors and Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, which unveiled the recommendations of the Rail and Urban Transport Review commissioned by Labour while in opposition. Its chief policy ask is to establish a 'Transport Strategy for England' which will outline how the country's public transport system should develop over the next half-a-century.

During the event, Louise Haigh also confirmed other Greater Manchester transport projects on the mayor's wishlist — including a new railway line to Liverpool, an underground Piccadilly station, and new ground-level platforms at the terminus — would be decided upon by the government in the next few months.

~

Free from clickbait, pop-up ads and unwanted surveys, Stockport Nub News is a quality online newspaper for our town.

To get our top stories in your inbox each week, subscribe to our free weekly newsletter HERE.

Please consider following Stockport Nub News on Facebook or Twitter