The £250 million ‘masterplan’ for a brand-new mixed residential neighbourhood in Stockport has been unveiled.
Coming from Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) and the English Cities Fund (ECF) – which is a joint venture between Homes England, Muse, and Legal & General – the “exciting” development will take shape to the west of the Greater Manchester town’s centre, and is currently known as ‘Stockport 8’.
Located on land either side of King Street West and next to the railway viaduct, the £250 million plans will reconnect the site to nearby neighbourhoods and the town centre, and aim to “bring life back” to what was once a “thriving” residential neighbourhood under the railway arches.
The ‘Stockport 8’ site is central to the wider £1 billion investment that’s currently being delivered across the town centre, and is “at the heart” of the £500 million Stockport MDC masterplan – which is aiming to transform Stockport into the most “sustainable” and “liveable” town centre in the region over the next decade.
The 130-acre Stockport MDC masterplan includes 4,000 new homes, alongside local amenities, green spaces, new workspaces, and “radical” transport improvements.
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The £250m ‘masterplan’ for a new mixed residential neighbourhood in Stockport has been unveiled / Credit: Stockport MDC
Alongside the draft masterplan for ‘Stockport 8’, a number of concept sketches have also been released.
Developers say the concept sketches show the project’s “early thoughts” for the next chapter in the story of Stockport’s revival.
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The ‘masterplan’ then outlines the aim for a high-quality and walkable green neighbourhood that combines all of the best attributes of the existing place with “innovative placemaking ideas”, in a bid to deliver a “vibrant” new part of town for the people of Stockport.
This includes up to 1,200 energy-efficient homes – a mixture of affordable, Build to Rent, and open-market sale properties – new spaces for local businesses and community facilities, green spaces to “promote health and wellbeing”, new walking routes to connect the wider town centre to surrounding communities, and also fully-accessible car parking, car clubs, and cycle parking areas.
Stockport MDC & the English Cities Fund have launched a community conversation on £250m plans to create an exciting new neighbourhood to the west of the town centre.
Plans also feature several chances to celebrate Stockport’s iconic local heritage, including new inclusive public spaces for markets, festivals, and live events.
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“This is one of the largest town centre regeneration projects in the UK,” commented Joe Stockton, who is the Senior Development manager at Muse – which is part of the English Cities Fund – “and it’s only right that the local community is at the heart of what we do.
“We’re excited to find out what local people and businesses want to see in the area to help us shape the plans, and ensure there is something for everyone.
“We want to design a thriving, inclusive neighbourhood that will deliver the needs of the community now, and for generations to come, and that has Stockport’s independent spirit and character at its core.”
Featured Image – Stockport MDC
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Premier League Darts is returning to Manchester’s AO Arena in 2027
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Premier League Darts is confirmed to be returning to Manchester next year.
Now’s your chance to see the youngest world champion in darts history, AKA Warrington’s very-own Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler, show us how it’s done, as next year’s BetMGM Premier League Darts lineup has just been announced this week – with various dates confirmed across 17 different cities in the UK and Europe.
And Manchester is one of those cities, as the AO Arena has shared that they are set to host an evening next April, and we couldn’t be more excited about it.
This means that we will be lucky enough to witness the biggest names in world darts all under one roof, including headliners Gian van Veen and Luke Humphries, as well as Littler.
Manchester is the only northern city to get the pleasure of hosting the event next year, as Liverpool is also on the lineup, as is Leeds, Sheffield, and Newcastle, while elsewhere in the UK, the stars will travel to Glasgow, Birmingham, London, and several other major locations.
BetMGM Premier League Darts is to be held on Thursday 8 April at the AO Arena in Manchester, and to avoid being disappointed, fans are advised to register for presale ticket access.
Following a successful season of events in 2026, tickets are expected to be like gold-dust, so don’t say you haven’t been warned.
To access the first wave of tickets, fans must become an active PDCTV Annual Member before 23:59pm on Friday 9 October. Alternatively, general sale is on Thursday 22 October 2026, but make sure not to hang about.
Featured Image – Sandro Halank (via Wikimedia Commons)
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Andy Burnham wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on drinking alcohol in football stands
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has claimed he wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on fans getting to drink alcohol in football stands.
It’s a ban that’s been in place in the top five tiers of men’s football since 1985, when fears over violence and hooliganism were at their height, but now the Prime Minister has raised the question of whether drinking in football stands – or ‘drinking in sight / view of the pitch’, as it’s known formally – is actually unjust, due to the fact that same rules don’t apply to fans of other sports.
“I don’t think it’s fair for football fans to be singled out in that way,” Andy Burnham has declared this week, grabbing headlines in the process.
He continued: “I think that legislation dates to an era where football was very different, and I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination.
“I’m not going to back away from what’s been a long-held view of mine. I don’t see how it can be fair that some supporters of one sport can be treated differently.”
The Prime Minister’s comments have been met with mixed response.
Andy Burnham wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on drinking alcohol in football stands / Credit: James Kirkup | Julia Nastogadka (via Unsplash)
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), for example, has very much welcomed the idea, saying that it ‘totally agrees’ the legislation is ‘outdated’ and ‘deserves to be reviewed’.
Tom Greatrex, chair of the FSA, said in a statement: “The FSA has always argued that it’s unfair to criminalise football fans for having a pint while watching the match – especially since you can sit in the same seat drinking alcohol whilst watching an Oasis gig or rugby league.”
However, on the flip side, the UK Football Policing Unit said it would be ‘incredibly rash’ to change the rules without proper consultation.
“Other sports simply don’t see the violence and criminal behaviour from their supporters that football does, albeit a minority, with alcohol often playing a significant part in violent and disorderly behaviour,” it said in a statement on the matter.
The Prime Minister did state in his initial proposition though that ‘there are different ways it could be done’, hinting that it could be done ‘on a trial basis’ perhaps.
The English Football League (EFL) added that it would be ‘receptive to discussions around reviewing current legislation and permitting alcoholic drinks within view of the pitch’.
No formal details on a review have been confirmed as of yet, so fans are encouraged to stay tuned for updates in due course.
Emily Sergeant -
22nd January 2024 
