Further plans revealed for £1bn transformation of Stockport town centre

Stockport Mayoral Development (MDC) has announced its partnership with The English Cities Fund (ECF) in a long-term joint venture to develop an eight-acre site, known as Stockport 8, in Stockport town centre.

Both Stockport MDC and ECF will invest more than £250m to transform the town centre into a new digitally enabled, green and fully walkable neighbourhood, which will include 1,200 new homes along with retail, leisure and office space.

This is the latest development in Stockport MDC’s Town Centre West plans, which forms a major part of the town centre’s £1bn investment programme.

Lord Kerslake, Chair of Stockport MDC, said “It speaks volumes about the strength of the opportunity in Stockport that, within just one year of starting our search for a new development partner for Stockport 8, we have secured a long-term joint venture with ECF.

“The interest from the industry was overwhelming, but ultimately, ECF demonstrated a shared long-term vision for the site, and for Stockport. This vision was one that clearly reflects the ambitions laid out in our Strategic Business Plan, including a way forward that delivers against our guiding principles of community, sustainability and innovation, and, most importantly, one that best serves the needs of local people. Added to this, ECF’s shared ethos for public and private sector collaboration, and it was clear that ECF was the right partner for this next phase in Stockport’s transformation.

“Work to deliver the Town Centre West masterplan is continuing at pace, with a number of our landmark schemes such as the Interchange, Weir Mill and the latest phase of Stockport Exchange, completing this year and next. This latest milestone is another major step forward in our plan to create one of the most liveable town centres, not only in the region, but in the UK.”

A planning application for the site will be submitted in summer 2024, with the target of completion of the first phase by summer 2027.

Stockport 8 is adjacent to two other landmark developments within the Town Centre West masterplan. These include Stockport Interchange – a major redevelopment of the former bus station into a state-of-the-art transport hub, with new homes and a two-acre rooftop park, by Transport for Greater Manchester – and Weir Mill – a waterfront heritage building that is being restored, to create new homes and a leisure and culture destination for the town.