Orbit Developments

I’VE been watching with intrigue as a steady wave of conversions of commercial buildings into residential blocks have been quietly moving across Stockport.

Changing the use of a building can have a radical effect on an area and hopefully, in Stockport’s case, it can be a positive one.

One of the first effects is usually the relocation of existing office occupiers into other office developments, increasing the occupancy rates in the town centre, generating office refurbishment projects and increasing demand.

Secondly, the arrival of new residential developments in an area tends to bring fresh footfall and spend and, in turn, influences the types of retailers, convenience stores and amenities that pop up on their doorstep.

Until more recently, Stockport’s retail offer has been largely dictated by weekend shoppers coming in from the local district centres and office workers in the week due to the lack of housing in the centre of the town.

However, residents have differing shopping hours and requirements so it will be interesting to see how the town centre evolves with the latest changes to the town centre mix.

If implemented well, new quality housing developments will also provide support and untapped resources for local businesses by bringing in a raft of skilled workers into the town centre and families with children who will grow up to become the workforce of the future.

The arrival of fresh footfall and a skilled and sustainable workforce with additional disposal income can help fuel further evolution of the retail offer across the town centre, particularly a night time economy.

Finally, the remodelling and demolishing of the less ‘aesthetically pleasing’ commercial properties in the town centre will naturally improve the town’s skyline, which can’t be a bad thing!