A new building offering library services, archives, an events space, and an eatery will open soon in Stockport town centre. 

The Stockroom project, based in the Merseyway Shopping Centre, is due to open in Autumn, aiming to attract thousands of visitors. 

A statement from the council describes the upcoming centre as an "innovative space for creativity, discovery and inspiration". 

More specifically, the centre aims to be a one-stop-shop for a range of different services. 

For many Stopfordians, the foremost function of the building will be as a new library, as service provision (including books and archives) moves from central library to Stockroom.

This does mean that Central Library will operate in a lesser capacity than it currently does; however, it will remain open to provide adults' education services, WiFi and computers, as well as a selection of other fiction and non-fiction books. 

Whilst main library provision will move to Stockroom, Stockport central library will remain open for a range of other services (Image - Alasdair Perry)

As well as a library, Stockroom will also function as an events venue, offering everything from intimate acoustic concerts to children's theatre productions. 

Nor is this the only thing children can find at the centre; Stockroom is designed to be 'family-friendly', and will therefore include a children's library and play areas. 

In addition, visitors can expect a 'high-quality' bistro, handy car parking access, a multi-faith room, 'cutting edge' IT facilities, and ready access to Stockport's extensive historic archives collection (including Richard Cobden's letters).

Plans for the Stockroom project were first approved in 2021. According to a council webpage from the time, the building's aim is to "transform Stockport town centre to help the town overcome the economic devastation felt by high streets across Britain by the impact of Covid-19". 

The same webpage cites a 42% decrease in central library visitors from April 2012 to March 2020, adding: "Evidence from around the UK shows that creating a new 21st century library, cafe and learning space in Merseyway will breathe new life into vacant retail units and bring thousands of visitors back to Stockport town centre as other, similar developments up and down the country have done."  

Storyhouse in Chester has served as inspiration for projects like Stockroom - a town centre library twinned with other services to increase footfall (Image - Google Maps)

The project is, for the most part, funded by a £14.5m grant from central government. The grant comes from the £1bn 'Future High Streets Fund', described as an effort to "renew and reshape town centres and high streets".

Stockport, as it happens, is not the only place in Greater Manchester to benefit from this funding. 

Oldham received £10.75m, which will be used to create a new business hub and a produce-hall style eatery. 

Rochdale, meanwhile, received £17m, which will be spent on new apartments and a hotel. 

Councillor Frankie Singleton, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Sport at Stockport Council, said of Stockroom: "It's fantastic to see the project come to fruition [...] and things are really beginning to take shape."

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