‘This is Stockport’s Northern Quarter’ - a closer look at the Underbanks and its future
It's a town on the up where loads of people want to live.
The centre of Stockport is seeing massive changes take place as new apartment blocks and offices are being built.
Yet one area of the town has stood out as different from the rest and is building its own creative community.
Stockport's Underbanks gets its name from the location – based below the market hall in the historic old town, near the River Mersey.
The conservation area traces its origins back hundreds of years and has a bright future ahead, with trendy independent bars and restaurants mixing with its shops, and an explosion of street art on the walls.
But opinion is divided about whether the changes are what Stockport needs.
Ewa came to Stockport from Polish capital Warsaw and has lived in the borough for more than 20 years with her family.
She's a big fan of the Underbanks, and straight away points out how clean and calm the area is on a warm Tuesday afternoon.
"We come here for drinks and food, it's so important to have a place like this in the town and it's great for the community, to be able to come after work or on a Friday night.
"The Underbanks is like Stockport's Northern Quarter, it's getting better and better and it's a beautiful place."
Katie, 24, came to Greater Manchester from Northern Ireland for university and decided to stay after graduating.
She moved into an apartment in the Underbanks last year and said the atmosphere of Stockport town centre was a big draw.
"This is our Northern Quarter, and there's a lovely community here," she said. "We go to the same cafes and see the same people, everyone is very friendly."
Down the road, Rob works at Greenhouse Books, which describes itself as a 'weird and wonderful bookshop with heart.'
He said there's a strong creative community developing in the area with like-minded businesses and people coming together.
"There's a real sense of community here actually," he adds. "I feel like you can walk down here and bump into people with shared interests.
"There's a bit of a creative scene [growing], there are people moving out and Manchester and coming here."
One of the big draws of the Underbanks, Rob says, is the growing number of independent businesses, which he thinks has helped bring the community closer together.
Not everyone is happy about the changes though.
Ghaz Harb, 65, is owner of Electrocom and has been based in Stockport town centre for the last 27 years.
A sign on the shop window announces that Electrocom is closing down, and Ghaz confirms he wants to shut the business by the end of the year.
"It seems to be going in one direction which is food and drink, not other types of shops," he says. "It's not that vibrant mix with everything here."
"The council are doing their bit [to improve things] but they seem to be taking their time, and a lot of older businesses are going.
"I'm closing down too, everyone wants to make this into a club or pub now."
In June last year, Stockport council brought in new measures to pedestrianise the market area and Underbanks.
This was aimed at improving the experience of visitors and local businesses, as well as improving safety and encouraging more walking and cycling.
Automatic rise/fall bollards limit access to the market area between 10.30am and midnight from Monday to Sunday.The restrictions start at 7am on market days, Friday and Saturday, with a full-time closure of the Market Place in front of the Produce Hall.
The scheme also saw the closure of Bridge Street, Great Underbank and part of Little Underbank, from 10.30am to midnight Monday to Sunday.
Ghaz says the move has caused problems for his business and customers who rely on vehicle access.
"It's a way of pushing out the older businesses like us, we've had nightmares with deliveries," he said.
"People say they can't access us [with their car]. They are not making it easy for local businesses, it's all about street parties and events.
"It's great if you have a cafe or a restaurant, this is a trend, but is it going to last?"
For its part, Stockport council says the changes at the Underbanks are part of a vibrant revival.
In February, it announced a swathe of recent projects had been completed, including progress on apartment developments, restoration work, and the creation of nature-themed street art – with more changes on the way.
Cllr Micheala Meikle, the council's lead on regeneration, said: "We're proud to be at the forefront of regeneration across Greater Manchester, and the progress we've made in the Underbanks is a testament to that.
"The area is thriving thanks to a £7m investment from the council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, alongside strong partnerships with developers, businesses, and the local community.
"More businesses and developers are choosing Stockport and the Underbanks as the place to set up or relocate, contributing to the town's thriving economy.
"As part of our ambitious plans for the town centre, we're committed to supporting local businesses, and we encourage everyone to shop local – it's a vibrant, one-of-a-kind destination and well worth a visit."
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