We need more town centre homes

I THINK we were all a bit shocked by the announcement that M&S in Merseyway is to close.

One of the reasons they gave is that with more people shopping online they need less stores.

It’s clear that high streets are struggling – but not everywhere.

Shops in Manchester city centre aren’t struggling and there are plenty of bars, cafes, restaurants and other amenities. So what makes the difference between a thriving and a failing high street?

One of the reasons may be a 178 per cent increase in people living in Manchester city over the past 20 years, mainly younger, highly skilled professionals.

Manchester has developed accommodation to suit the city lifestyle of young people. They spend money near where they live in the shops, clubs and restaurants.

Manchester has thriving city centre businesses and has built accommodation suited to young people wanting to have a city lifestyle.

Those residents spend money where they live and that is attractive to retailers. The shops thrive.

Extra customers are those who come into the city centre to work.

Stockport Labour council has just announced that they are going to be investing in new town centre housing, which is excellent news.

Stockport has good transport connections to Manchester city centre and its thriving business sector.

Residents in Stockport town centre can travel easily to work in Manchester.

More housing means more people living in the town centre, leading to more customers for shops, bars and restaurants, encouraging retailers to invest in new and attractive shops.

As well as changing the way we shop, online shopping will change the kind of shops we have on our high streets.

People will be looking to do more than shop, so what else a town centre can offer will be very important.

Cinemas like The Light at Red Rock, interesting eating and drinking places in an attractive green space will all help Stockport to become the place to shop in Greater Manchester – with the added attraction it is so easy to get to.

It is very difficult to predict the future but the world of shopping is changing and with it town centres.

In the future shops will be where there are people and businesses. Stockport council understands that.