Big town centre revamp agreed in principle
DRAMATIC £120m plans to rebuild a swathe of Stockport town centre have been agreed in principal by the region’s town hall chiefs.
Proposals now due to go out to consultation would see not only a completely new ‘state-of-the-art’ transport interchange created – a long-term ambition of local leaders – but also nearly 200 new flats, rooftop green space, a park and connections to the train station and River Mersey.
Stockport council leader Alex Ganotis also told fellow bosses at the latest meeting of Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) that it was a case of ‘when, not if’ regarding Metrolink’s arrival in the town, although that has yet to be agreed by transport bosses.
The rebuild forms not only part of council plans to radically improve the town’s dated bus station, but also to concentrate new housing in the town centre.
As the interchange proposals have been drawn up, they have evolved from just being about transport links into ‘something much bigger,’ said Coun Ganotis.
In total, 190 flats to rent – none ‘affordable,’ because the council says there is enough affordable housing in the area already – would now also be built next to the new hub, as Stockport looks to increase high-density housing in the town centre, partly with the help of a £2.7m government grant.
That will help the borough avoid the need to build on green belt, added Coun Ganotis.
New green space on a raised podium is also planned.
During construction of the interchange, a temporary bus station has been suggested for the car park on Heaton Lane.
A new bridge over the River Mersey to Heaton Lane is also proposed, along with a new link road between the A6 and Travis Brow, upgraded frontage onto Mersey Square and a new cycle hub, as the council looks to slash congestion through the centre of Stockport.
Both the town hall and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority are to invest £5m into the project, which they expect to get back when the value of the development rises, with the remaining investment to come from government grants and the private sector.
Stockport council and Transport for Greater Manchester envisage the interchange to be complete by 2021, with the residential and new public space scheduled by the middle of the following year.
Welcoming the plans, mayor Andy Burnham said he saw ‘no reason’ other town centres across the conurbation could not do similarly. He did not commit to sending the Metrolink to Stockport but noted that there were a number of bids in for such extensions, including a spur to Middleton.