Stockport’s regeneration has hit a new milestone - our Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) is one step away from expanding to cover the whole town centre, tripling its boundary in a UK first.
The move, approved by Greater Manchester Combined Authority on Friday following a recommendation by Mayor Andy Burnham, is set to be legally formalised pending Parliamentary approval.
It means Stockport MDC will be able to supercharge development across 410 acres: 130 acres in the west of the town centre, where development has already taken shape, along with 280 acres in the east. The expansion sets a new standard for urban redevelopment, signalling that our town’s momentum is only accelerating.
As part of the next chapter, we’re doubling down on our commitment to deliver high-quality housing to suit all stages of life, raising our target from 4,000 to 8,000 new homes across the town centre in the next 15 years.
Since launching as a delivery vehicle for regeneration in 2019, Stockport MDC has delivered:
- 1,200 homes either complete or on site, with another 1,500 in the pipeline.
- £600 million in private investment.
- Office space at Stockport Exchange – the town’s very own business district.
Key achievements include:
- The completion of the state-of-the-art Stockport Interchange with its two-acre park.
- The transformation of the historic Weir Mill into a vibrant new neighbourhood, featuring 253 apartments, green spaces, and leisure areas – set to complete spring 2026.
- The recently opened Platform development offers 73 apartments for Rent to Buy, while construction has begun at Chestergate - a development set to bring even more affordable and social rent homes to the town centre.
The next phase will deliver a further 1,200 sustainable homes at the new Stockport 8 neighbourhood, alongside several public squares, all designed with sustainability and community at its heart.
The MDC continues to drive Stockport’s growth as part of the wider regeneration programme led by the council – the largest town centre regeneration in the UK - which has earned national recognition from being named the Sunday Times’ best place to live in the North West, to accolades as one of the UK’s top places to retire, buy a first home, or enjoy independent shopping.
The expansion milestone follows the recent approval of the Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) for land in the east of the town centre, which sets out an ambitious vision for 4,000 new homes, a brand-new secondary school, a modern health hub and more green spaces, including a riverside park.
Cllr Mark Roberts, Leader of Stockport Council
We're breaking the mould in Stockport with our bold regeneration plans. There isn't current legislation that allows us to keep growing at a pace that our ambition would like to see, and I think that says everything about that positive vision for our town.
We’ve taken derelict brownfield sites and turned them into thriving communities, with thousands of new homes on the way, a brand-new school, health hub, and more green spaces where people can spend time and enjoy what our town centre has to offer.
Expanding the MDC is the next step in our journey to building a brighter future in Stockport that benefits everyone across the whole borough. It’s a future where town centres work for people again, where regeneration delivers real value, and where councils lead from the front. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved in a short space of time and we’re just getting started.
Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham
The change that Stockport has seen in recent years is plain to see – and the town keeps going from strength to strength. It is a pioneer of the Mayoral Development Corporation model, offering a blueprint for urban regeneration that the whole country can look to.
Now we’re ready to see Stockport’s game-changing MDC expand across the whole town centre, delivering more sustainable homes and public space for the whole community.
