Plans to bring the Metrolink to Stockport will "move ahead" next year, Andy Burnham has said.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester gave an update on the timeline for the project during a phone in on BBC Radio Manchester, and said he remains committed to expanding the network.

Leaders at Stockport council have been calling for a Metrolink stop in the town for years, with a proposed extension of the East Didsbury line which goes into Manchester city centre.

But there is growing frustration in Stockport town hall at the lack of progress to get the work started, with the cost of the expansion thought to cost up to £1 billion in total.

A new transport interchange in Stockport town centre opened in March was designed to be 'Metrolink ready' – and Mr Burnham said the regeneration work taking place in Stockport town centre will support the business case for bringing the tram to the borough.

(Image - Transport for Greater Manchester)

"There is a firm commitment to Metrolink to Stockport, the brand new interchange is ready and waiting for it," the Mayor added.

"The money is in our capital pipeline, we have the funding to develop the plan for Metrolink, we would have to make the business case to the government so they would have to see that it stacks up.

"But with our support Stockport is about to treble the size of the Mayoral Development Corporation, such is the success of that has been, more homes being built now in Stockport town centre, I think they're going to build around 8,000, that creates the business case to bring Metrolink to Stockport."

Mr Burnham previously said work on the new line could begin in 2028 if an agreement and planning permission for the project can be secured.

If approved, the tram would offer Stockport town centre residents some of the best transport links in Greater Manchester, with buses, trams and trains to Manchester city centre, as well as the West Coast Main Line to London.

Councillors in Stockport have called for further expansion of the Metrolink around the borough of Stockport in future, including proposed lines to Marple and Cheadle.

Buses in Stockport are also set to join Greater Manchester's Bee Network from January 5.

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