Last updated 23 December 2024
Stockport’s remarkable 2024: a year of achievement and progress
2024 has been another outstanding year for Stockport.

Cllr Mark Hunter, Leader of Stockport Council, reflects on a fantastic 2024 for Stockport:
From its recognition as the "Best Place to Live in the North West" by The Sunday Times Best Places to Live Guide to groundbreaking regeneration projects and cultural milestones, Stockport’s evolution shows no signs of slowing down. This achievement is a testament to the town’s bold vision and commitment to creating an exceptional place to live, work, and thrive.
The launch of the One Stockport: One Future plan in March set a clear vision and tone for the year, creating a borough where people, communities, and businesses can thrive. Emphasising collaboration, inclusivity, and ambit ion, the plan focuses on addressing inequalities, combating climate change, and creating opportunities for all. Grounded in shared values and priorities, it has driven the council’s efforts this year and will continue to guide the work ahead.
As we reflect on 2024, it’s evident that this vision has already delivered significant results.
Town Centre regeneration and growth
One of the standout moments of 2024 was the highly anticipated opening of Stockport Interchange in March, a key milestone in the town’s £1 billion regeneration journey. Above the Interchange, the stunning two-acre Viaduct Park has been created, offering a vibrant green space in the town centre.
In addition, January saw the fourth phase of Stockport Exchange complete, with HURST, the leading UK accountancy firm, taking the top floor. They joined other businesses including musicMagpie and BASF, all of which have helped turn Stockport Exchange into a thriving business hub.
Sustainability has been a key focus throughout the town’s regeneration. The Viaduct Park at the Interchange integrates sustainable water drainage systems and hundreds of new trees, while enhanced walking and cycling routes connect the town to surrounding areas, including the River Mersey and Trans Pennine Trail, promoting active travel and greener living.
A prime example of our innovative approach to regeneration is the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC), founded with a partnership-first mindset, uniting public and private expertise. Since its inception five years ago, it is successfully delivering over 1,200 new homes and attracted £600m of private investment. It was a pleasure to celebrate their five-year birthday this year and I encourage you to read their reflection on their successes this year.
Housing developments have also made significant progress this year. The transformation of Weir Mill, an iconic riverside site, is on track for completion in 2025. This project will deliver 253 apartments and vibrant commercial spaces, breathing new life into a historic landmark. In November, work began on St. Thomas Gardens, which will provide 68 homes and an 82-bed intermediate care home, addressing housing and healthcare needs in Stockport’s Town Centre West.
On the retail front, Stockport’s offer continued to expand with seven million visitors, new major store openings such as Tesco, 13 lease renewals and more than 20 events along with the ongoing development of Merseyway, signal a bright future for Stockport’s town centre.
While exciting plans were unveiled for the iconic Pyramid, soon to be transformed into a unique banqueting hall, adding a unique dining destination to the town's booming food and drink scene.
Climate action and sustainability
In November, Stockport hosted the CAN Summit now in its fourth year, which celebrated, connected, and inspired climate action across the borough. Alongside updates on the council’s progress, the event featured talks, discussions, and workshops aimed at encouraging everyone to think about how we can all contribute to building a climate-friendly Stockport. Leading up to the summit, a dedicated roadshow engaged school children and businesses, offering valuable education on climate issues and inspiring action across the community.
Cultural achievements
Stockport’s cultural scene has shone in 2024, as it proudly held the title of Greater Manchester Town of Culture. This brought events to Stockport, spanning music, dance, and digital arts, all culminating in the Town of Culture Weekender in March, which celebrated the town’s creative spirit.
The Hat Works Museum made a triumphant return in March following a £100,000 refurbishment, welcoming over 15,000 visitors through their doors this year. The museum’s refreshed exhibits spotlight Stockport’s rich industrial heritage, and the museum’s success hasn’t gone unnoticed—welcoming visitors from as far afield as Australia! The BBC also paid a visit in November, featuring Stockport in a special programme that highlighted its remarkable transformation, the town’s iconic hatting history, and its pivotal role in the industrial revolution.
Exciting progress has also been made on Stockroom, with stunning new images released in August offering a preview of what’s to come. Alongside this, a programme of creative events and workshops has already begun, engaging the community in new and inspiring ways. Stockroom is set to become the place in Stockport to meet up, get involved, or simply stop by for a brew.
Stockport’s art scene has also taken bold new strides in 2024. Striking murals have transformed the town’s streets with eye-catching, vibrant design s, and the highly anticipated Helen Clapcott exhibition at the War Memorial Art Gallery opened to rave reviews in September. Running until 25 January, the exhibition showcases over 100 stunning artworks that capture Stockport’s post-industrial landscape.
Supporting our residents, families and young people
Stockport’s dedication to supporting its residents shone brightly this year. The One Stockport Family Hubs network continued to provide vital services to families, children, and young people across the borough, attracting over 13,000 visits to its website and directly supporting nearly 200 families online. The One Stockport Family Hubs have continued to offer a comprehensive, one-stop-shop for families, children, and young people, covering all aspects of family life. There are now seven Family Hub networks across Stockport, including three dedicated Family Hub buildings and 24 other sites, such as libraries, Life Leisure Hubs, and Stockport Homes.
This winter, Stockport Council has gone above and beyond to provide warm and welcoming spaces across the borough, with a special emphasis on supporting older residents. In addition to launching the Pensioner Assist Network, which helps older residents apply for Pension Credit and other benefits, the Council has also contributed £300,000 to support those facing the greatest financial challenges this winter.
December marked a milestone for Stockport’s SEND community with the opening of the £15.5 million Lisburne School, offering 208 specialist places for children aged 4 to 11 with complex needs. The state-of-the-art facilities demonstrate Stockport’s commitment to inclusive education and supporting every child’s potential. Lisburne is part of the Council’s ambitious strategy to expand SEND provision, which has created over 600 new specialist school places since 2020, demonstrating its commitment to meeting the needs of the borough’s children and families.
It is with this dedication to improving SEND that we have also called upon Government to show fairness to all Local Authorities in their commitment to SEND. Stockport is one of the areas that receives the lowest funding for SEND in the whole country. We recently wrote an open letter to Government to highlight this unfairness and call for it to be rectified.
The council had a busy year supporting its fostering community. Key highlights include the launch of the short film Everything to raise awareness of the vital role foster carers play, and the opening of its fifth Mockingbird hub, providing support to over 50 families. The council hosted events across local venues and collaborated with businesses to support fostering-friendly employment.
In November, in recognition of their long-term commitment, foster carers Kathy and Steve were awarded for their remarkable 20 years of service, providing care for 25 children and accumulating over 20,000 days of care.
The Public Health Team has achieved significant milestones over the past year: delivering over 300 workplace heart checks and supporting 9,300 NHS Health Checks to reduce heart disease. Targeted cancer prevention work earned a GM Cancer Award, and breast screening uptake improved dramatically, moving from 8th to 3rd in Greater Manchester. Flu vaccination rates reached 53%, supported by innovative outbreak management in care homes. The START team helped 3,690 residents lead healthier lives, while the SHAPES initiative supported over 90 schools in promoting physical activity. Public Health also led efforts to tackle inequalities and worked with communities to improve health and access to essential services.
Fantastic events
Stockport’s cultural renaissance continued throughout the year, with a host of events for all the family. Among the highlights was the return of the Krazy Races Soapbox Derby in July , which transformed the town into a thrilling racecourse, combining creativity, competition, and fun.
As Christmas drew closer, Stockport Spectacular Sunday brought a hub of festive cheer to the town centre, drawing huge crowds and providing a full day of seasonal activities and entertainment. The event captured the essence of Stockport’s vibrant community spirit, showcasing everything the town has to offer.
Adding a playful touch, the Elf on the Shelf spread Christmas cheer across Stockport with their mischievous antics, creating holiday excitement as the year drew to a close.
Honouring Stockport’s achievements
To round off the year on a high, Stockport’s Mayor hosted a special reception in Honour of the King’s New Year’s and Birthday Honours 2024 recipients, with twelve extraordinary Stockport residents recognised for their exceptional achievements.
As we look ahead to 2025, Stockport’s incredible momentum promises even greater things to come. With continued investment, bold vision, and a community spirit that sets it apart, Stockport is firmly on track to becoming one of the UK’s most vibrant, exciting places to live, work, and visit.