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.
“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.”
Hundreds of new homes in Mayfield Park given green light
Daisy Jackson
The chance to live in Manchester city centre’s newest park (and one of its only green spaces) has taken a step closer, with plans for new Mayfield Park homes given the green light.
879 apartments have been approved this week, which will have ‘the ultimate front garden’.
The Mayfield district has been undergoing major changes in the last few years, including the redevelopment of Depot Mayfield (into Freight Island, plus a music venue for events like Warehouse Project) and the opening of the beautiful Mayfield Park.
And now hundreds of new one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes will be added to the area, as well as a 40% increase in the size of the park.
The plans for the first homes at Mayfield Park were met with unanimous approval by the City Council’s Planning Committee.
The residences will span across four buildings, with low-rise elements peppered in amongst the taller blocks, and will also be home to restaurants, cafes, and health and wellness facilities.
A new tree-lined road through the development will enhance walking and cycling connectivity from east Manchester into the city centre.
More than 880 jobs will be generated during the construction phase, plus 120 full-time jobs when operational.
Hundreds of new homes in Mayfield Park given green light. Credit: Assembly Studios
The proposals suggest that the apartments will contribute £2 million annually in Council Tax and a major £10 million boost to local businesses through increased spending.
The high-quality homes are designed by Studio Egret West and shedkm, designed to reflect the industrial heritage of the area, including distinctive arches.
20% of the first phase of homes are intended to be classed as affordable housing and will be prioritised for key workers in Manchester.
Henrietta Nowne, Development Director at Landsec, representing The Mayfield Partnership, said: “For the first time, Mancunians will have the ultimate back garden within the award-winning Mayfield Park.
“An opportunity like this hasn’t existed before in Manchester. Since starting on site earlier this month, there’s real momentum building as we continue to grow a green, healthy and connected district in the heart of Manchester.”
The approval marks the next chapter of the continued transformation of the Mayfield district near Piccadilly Station, led by Manchester City Council, TfGM, London Continental Railways (LCR), and Landsec.
Revenue from Manchester’s ‘big gigs’ to go towards supporting local grassroots music venues
Emily Sergeant
Manchester City Council is set to earmark almost £250,000 to support grassroots music venues in the city.
Following on from the success of the city’s huge summer of music, which in recent weeks has seen hundreds of thousands of fans converge in the city to see massive names like Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Charlie XCX, Elbow, and Robbie Williams, as well as other talents like Fontaines D.C. and Sam Fender still yet to come.
Oh yeah, and there was also that small matter of Oasis reuniting for five nostalgia-drenched gigs in Manchester’s Heaton Park earlier last month.
Over the course of the summer, it has been estimated that Manchester will have attracted a whopping 1.3 million music tourists, which is being described as a ‘tremendous’ boost for the city’s economy as a whole, especially the hospitality industry.
Revenue made from Manchester’s ‘big gigs’ this summer is to go towards supporting local grassroots music venues / Credit: Eldhose Kuriyan | Joshua Hanson (via Unsplash)
These huge events are also generating income for the Council too, either by being hosted in the city’s largest parks with commercial arrangements for their use, or through the business rates paid by major venues – and it’s this income that has been earmarked to go towards supporting grassroots music venues throughout the city.
As well as reinvesting part of this revenue into parks and greenspaces, the Council is planning to set aside £245,000 to be made available in financial support for Manchester’s grassroots venues.
While exact details are in the process of being finalised, the intention is that the scheme will be administered by the Music Venue Trust to ensure that the money gets to where it is needed as ‘quickly and effectively’ as possible.
It’s estimated that Manchester will have welcomed 1.3 million music tourists before summer’s out / Credit: Nathan Mullet (via Unsplash)
“Manchester is a big noise in the music world,” commented Councillor Bev Craig, who is the Leader of Manchester City Council, “and this summer, all eyes have been on the city as we’ve hosted some huge concerts and seen unprecedented success in our large venues.
“But while the biggest gigs might dominate the headlines, we know they are only possible because they are part of a wider ecosystem, with grassroots venues providing the launchpads for acts to develop and grow.
It's been a BIG summer of music in Manchester.
We've got pioneering plans to use money raised by some of the biggest gigs to support our grassroots venues – a vital ingredient of the city's amazing music scene: https://t.co/8ekQN7AmGBpic.twitter.com/MpVWpeHqbk
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) July 31, 2025
“We know that across the country, grassroots venues are struggling. That’s why we want to ensure that our grassroots venues can share some of the benefit from the success of those big events.
“We’re blessed in Manchester with an array of great smaller venues.
Emily Sergeant -
21st June 2022 
