All change with town’s £145m refit

IN its bustling heyday, it was the place to go for kids in Stockport.

Half of it has gone now, and what remains of the Grand Central cinema will soon be reduced to a pile of rubble.

The cinema closed in November last year.

It has already been replaced by the Light Cinema at the enormous new Redrock leisure development – all part of the council’s plan to transform Stockport town centre.

The new £45m picture house at the side of the M60 is just one piece of the £145m Stockport Exchange jigsaw.

A Holiday Inn Express hotel, a new public area outside the town centre train station, and multi-storey NCP car park have already been built.

Eventually, the area will boast 375,000sq ft of offices and 28,000sq ft of retail space.

The project is scheduled to finish in the next decade.

Caroline Simpson, corporate director for place at Stockport council, said: “I’m delighted that demolition work has begun making way for the next stage of development at Stockport Exchange.

“Stockport Exchange has already proven very popular with businesses. The development of the next, highquality office will mean more companies have the opportunity to make the business district their home, benefitting from the many opportunities Stockport offers.”