What Stockport could look like in 2040 - three new neighbourhoods planned in huge regeneration
Part of Stockport town centre is set to change beyond recognition with a blueprint to build three new neighbourhoods over 15 years.
Based on land to the east of the A6, the work will focus around Piccadilly, Hillgate, and near the River Mersey.
Council leader Mark Roberts and his cabinet team backed the vision this week, making it a key consideration in future planning applications.
It is part of a £1bn town-centre regeneration project dubbed 'the largest in the UK'.
The exciting changes are aiming to build a new riverside community with a public park, and plans to 'open up' the water for future residents and visitors.
A new neighbourhood is also planned on the land around Piccadilly, with new homes, areas for businesses, and green space.
The work will see changes come to Hillgate too, which is set to be 'renewed' through the uncovering of Hempshaw Brook to make a 'green, connected' neighbourhood with links to other parts of the town.
In total, there are 4,000 homes planned to the east of the A6 as part of the vision, and 8,000 planned across the town centre as a whole in the next 15 years.
Bosses leading the work at the council and Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) – the borough's development vehicle – say the new homes will be built along vital social infrastructure, with a new secondary school and health hub planned.
One one of the main ideas behind the changes is not just to build more homes, but to make the town a place where residents and visitors want to hang out and explore.
The future vision for Stockport also includes transport upgrades, with improved walking, cycling and public transport links around the town and to other communities in the borough.
Supporting the huge changes in the town centre, Stockport council this week supported plans to expand the boundary of the MDC to cover the entire town centre.
It was initially set up to support development taking place to the west of the A6, such as the new transport interchange and Stockport Exchange, a business district next to the train station where there are services to both Manchester city centre and London.
A project called Stockport 8 to build 1,300 homes near the arches of the town's Viaduct was recently given planning permission by the council.
The council said the proposed expansion is expected to be formally recommended by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and taken to Parliament in the next few weeks.
Council leader Mark Roberts said: "This gives us the route map for achieving our vision to double the number of new homes to 8,000, making the best use of brownfield land to significantly meet our borough's housing needs while creating well-designed neighbourhoods that revitalise our town.
"We're investing in infrastructure that matters – a health hub, new secondary school, green spaces and connectivity – while boosting opportunities for local businesses and attracting new investment.
"It's also about enhancing what we already have – restoring our historic charm, opening up picturesque riverside settings and improving travel routes.
"We've made huge progress in town centre west, and now we're ready to bring that same ambition to the area to the east of the town centre as we shape the next chapter of our town's story."
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