Stockport has been named as one of the best “up and coming” areas in the UK to invest in 2022, according to a new list.
Each year, The Sunday Times publishes lists of the best places to live across the country and also names some of the areas it considers to be the most “up and coming” so that people keen to make a move can figure out where is best to invest their money – and for 2022, Stockport has given a glowing recommendation.
The leading national newspaper named the Greater Manchester borough in its annual list that was published over the weekend.
The Sunday Times pointed to Stockport’s close proximity to Manchester city centre, its wide range of housing options and neighbourhoods, upcoming developments, and bustling hospitality scene some of the reasons why it’s one of the best places to invest in the UK in 2022.
It also claimed Stockport is home to some of the region’s “most interesting people”, and is gearing up to become one of “the coolest little corners of the country”.
Stockport has been named as one of the best “up and coming” areas in the UK to invest in 2022 / Credit: Stockport CouncilThe Sunday Times says the borough is gearing up to become one of “the coolest little corners of the country” / Credit: Stockport Council
Giving a rundown of North West investment options, and giving a well-deserved nod to Stockport, The Sunday Times said: “It’s partly by accident that Manchester’s most interesting people desert the increasingly corporate city centre to outer suburbs in search of family houses, fresh air and better places than Piccadilly Gardens to walk the dog. It’s also part of a plan, championed by the Manchester mayor, Andy Burnham, to create town centres good enough to rival the city, with the same quality of homes and amenities, but at much lower prices.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The best example so far is Stockport.
“Only 15 minutes from central Manchester by train, and already a magnet for interesting independent businesses such as the much-lauded restaurant Where the Light Gets In, the indie bookshop Rare Mags and the Produce Hall food market.
“The imminent conversion of the beautiful Weir Mill, next to the Mersey, and the iconic railway viaduct by the leading Manchester social impact developer Capital & Centric into flats, shops and public spaces is the highlight of a £1 billion regeneration that will transform a historic centre that’s already looking like one of the coolest little corners of the country.”
Plans for the historic Weir Mill to be converted into flats, shops, and public spaces as part of a £1 billion regeneration project / Credit: Capital & Centric
Stockport Council says the borough’s recognition in this prestigious national list shows that “Stockport is going places”.
“These are really exciting times for Stockport,” said Council Leader Mark Hunter.
“All this investment will boost the growth of the town centre, which will in turn, create modern, innovative spaces that will celebrate the town’s rich history and unique character.”
Disruption expected as key part of ‘major’ Greater Manchester motorway closes this weekend
Emily Sergeant
Drivers are being reminded that a key section of England’s main trans-Pennine motorway will be closed this month.
As Network Rail looks to replace an almost 60-year-old railway bridge, the Castleton bridge, a key section of the M62 between junction 19 at Heywood and junction 20 at Rochdale is set to close for two full weekends while demolition work takes place.
The section of the major motorway will be closed in both directions from 9pm on Friday (6 September) to 6am on Monday (9 September), and again from 9pm on Friday 20 September to 6am on Monday 23 September.
National Highways – which operates the M62 – is working with Network Rail to ensure the work goes “as smoothly as possible”, but just as you’d expect, is warning drivers that will likely affect travel plans, especially as the motorway links Liverpool and Hull, as well as the cities of Manchester and Leeds in between.
#M62#Rochdale The M62 between Manchester and Leeds will be CLOSED at Rochdale this weekend.
While drivers are being urged to avoid this section of the M62 if possible, diversions will be in place.
Due to the timings of the work over the two weekends, different closure and diversion arrangements will be in place for the westbound and eastbound carriageways – with the eastbound carriageway actually being closed from junction 18 of the M62 at Simister Island interchange, to junction 20 of the M62 at Rochdale.
The westbound carriageway will be closed between junction 20 at Rochdale and junction 19 at Heywood.
This is the first time in recent memory that the M62 – which carries around 120,000 vehicles a day – has been closed for a whole weekend or other extended periods, specifically for planned work.
A key part of the M62 in Rochdale is closing this weekend / Credit: National Highways
Traffic officers at National Highways’ regional operations nearby will be working “around the clock” throughout the two weekends to monitor traffic, and work alongside the police and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) to help clear any incidents as quickly as possible.
Drivers heading across the Pennines are being urged to plan journeys in advance, including checking for congestion or incidents before setting out.
A dedicated webpage has been set up to help keep commuters, businesses, and other M62 users up to date with all the progress and planned closures in relation to the Network Rail project – including diversion information.
Check it out on the National Highways website here.
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
News
Major act pulls out of Manchester’s Neighbourhood festival as they cancel ALL shows
Daisy Jackson
One of the biggest names on this year’s Neighbourhood Festival line-up has pulled out of their headline performance, announcing that all of their upcoming shows are now cancelled.
The Mysterines, a Wirral-formed band, were meant to be embarking on a lengthy tour of some of the UK’s most legendary grassroots venue, including two nights at The Wardrobe in Leeds and a headline slot at multi-venue festival Neighbourhood.
But now the group have announced with ‘a heavy heart’ that they have cancelled ALL upcoming tour dates, all the way into 2025.
They said that to tour ‘is not the best decision for us at this time’ due to ‘recent circumstances’, but did not divulge any further information.
In a statement shared on Instagram, they wrote: “It is with a heavy heart that we must announce the cancellation of all upcoming tour dates due to recent circumstances.
“We were incredibly excited to share this tour with you, but after careful consideration, it has been decided that it’s not the best decision for us at this time.
The Mysterines have cancelled ALL upcoming shows including their Manchester Neighbourhood Festival gig. Credit: Publicity picture
“We sincerely apologise to everyone who was looking forward to seeing us perform, and we are deeply sorry for the disappointment this will cause. Please know that your support means the world to us, ticket refunds are available from point of purchase. Thank you for your understanding and patience during this time.
“With love always, The Mysterines x”
Responding to a comment that suggested The Mysterines had cancelled their tour due to financial reasons, frontwoman Lia Metcalfe wrote: “Unfortunately, most bands lose money touring nowadays, no matter how many tickets you sell or how big the tour is you’re on.
“But, this has never been a reason for us to cancel shows that we have already made commitments to. Especially a whole headline tour of our own, that we were also looking forward to.
“Please appreciate this wasn’t an easy decision and suggesting that this is about money is both ill informed and insensitive to our current circumstances.”
Neighbourhood Festival has removed them from its line-up and instead announced The Academic are stepping into the huge bill for Saturday 5 October.
Tickets for Neighbourhood Festival are available here.
Emily Sergeant -
21st June 2022 
