Campaign is bringing businesses to town
STOCKPORT town centre’s economy is continuing to expand, according to the latest lettings figures from the town’s largest landlord, Orbit Developments, which look set to be the best in over five years.
Orbit reports it has let 25,000 square feet of commercial property space in the first six months of this year across its portfolio of 12 town centre buildings, with a high amount of interest in the rest of the portfolio.
The figures comfortably beat Stockport town centre’s average total annual commercial lettings figure of 44,000 square feet over the past five years.
The growth follows a prolonged campaign by Orbit to change the perception of Stockport and its profile as a place to base a business.
The town recently attracted several highend software development businesses, which is in turn bringing in a new generation of IT professionals to the town and a number of UK head offices for international operations.
Orbit Developments’ managing director, Tony Jones, said: “We’re now seeing our investment in supporting events and activities in Stockport bearing fruit and benefitting the town.
“The We Are Stockport campaign and the planned introduction of the Stockport Business Improvement District ( BID) scheme are creating momentum for the initiatives producing positive change in the town.
“Businesses in the town, and those looking to relocate, can be assured that Stockport has all the elements required for economic success, which is great for the town and also good news for the wider North West area.”
Orbit has called for commercial property agents to reappraise what the town has to offer and even brought in Olympic track star Kriss Akabusi to talk about the power of belief in a place.
In other moves the Stockport Old Town brand has helped in increasing footfall in the historic areas of the town and community interest company Vision Stockport is aiming to create a more vibrant town centre.
Orbit has invested over £ 40,000 in sponsorship and development of local events in the last two years – such as the Headlander Festival, the Life Leisure Stockport 10km Run, the Stockport Old Town Fringe Festival and the Stockport Business Awards.
The Red Rock project is underway, and work has also started on £363m improvements to the transport infrastructure.
‘Stockport has all the elements required for economic success’