Hopes town's regeneration can be blueprint for others

The mayor of Greater Manchester has said she hopes the £1bn regeneration of Stockport town centre can be replicated in towns across the region.

The Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) was launched seven years ago and has ambitions to build 8,000 new homes in the town centre by 2040.

Bev Craig, who became metro mayor of Greater Manchester in July, said: "I want to carry on and go further with the work of Mayoral Development Corporations across the region.

"I want to build genuinely affordable homes on publicly owned land and, by getting the private sector to back us, I'm excited about what we can achieve with our MDCs, in places like Ashton-under-Lyne, Stalybridge and Oldham."

Mayoral Development Corporations are used to speed up regeneration projects by bringing land, funding, and planning powers together to attract investment.

They are able to use compulsory purchase powers to make sites available for housing projects and many MDCs are able to grant planning permission for developments.

The Stockport MDC has already delivered a new transport interchange, an affordable housing project near the station, and the regeneration of Weir Mill, a Grade II-listed cotton mill which was built in the 1790s.

In addition to new homes, it is also hoped the MDC will help to deliver a new school, healthcare facilities, and the expansion of the Metrolink network into Stockport town centre.

The MDC is also being used to help the delivery of 'Stockport 8', which includes the redevelopment of the Stagecoach bus depot into a new residential neighborhood.

The project has been described as one of the largest town centre regeneration projects in the UK, with the potential for up to 1,300 homes.

The scheme will also mean relocating around 200 electric buses to a permanent new depot which is planned for Heathside Park Road in Cheadle Heath.

Paul Richards, the deputy chief executive of Stockport Council, said: "Schemes are being delivered that the MDC has been absolutely key in bringing together and Stockport is a blueprint that the rest of the country might be able to adopt.

"The momentum is there and we're now seeing more people move into back the town centre, so its a virtuous circle because we can see more and more businesses opening in places like the Merseyway shopping centre."

MDCs have also been created in Old Trafford, to support the infastructure around a new 100,000-seat stadium for Manchester United, and at Atom Valley, to drive growth across Bury and Rochdale.

There are also plans for an MDC in Middleton, co-Chaired by the comedian Steve Coogan, alongside an MDC covering Ashton-under-Lyne and Stalybridge.

In Bolton, its hoped a new MDC will help bring forward regeneration plans at town centre sites including at Church Wharf, the Trinity Quarter and at the Crompton Place shopping centre, which will soon be demolished.

Another project being delivered by the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation is the £41m Hatters Yard project, which will have 148 affordable apartments.

The project has been supported by Homes England and will include a pedestrian route, connecting the River Mersey to Chestergate.

Councillor Micheala Meikle, the cabinet member for regeneration at Stockport Council, said: "What we want with this £2bn regeneration project is to create a real bustling destination, somewhere to come for a drink with your family and friends.

"We've been really thoughtful about this challenge of home-building because we want a bustling town centre, so we don't want soulless buildings, we want something with vibrancy and individuality."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.