Stockport County has launched a public consultation for fans and local residents to view the clubs plans to ‘expand and improve’ their historic Edgeley Park stadium.
With the Greater Manchester team having secured their place back in the English Football League after 11 years following the title-winning 2021/22 campaign, the nearly 140-year-old club is now plotting a return to the Championship.
That being said, part of the rebuild includes “investing in infrastructure” through developing the stadium, the sporting facilities they need to compete at a higher level, and hopefully sending a “ripple effect reaching further into Stockport itself, boosting the town and its economy”.
More seats and facilities
These are the words of County’s non-executive chairman and Vita group director (their primary sponsor), Ken Knott, who revealed in a statement that ownership is now proposing to “deliver new stands in phases, culminating in a final capacity of approximately 20,000 seats”.
Credit: Stockport County
For context, Edgeley Park’s current capacity is just over 10,000. Not only are these plans looking to double the number of matchday seats and tickets but they also intend to update the existing hospitality facilities and a new ‘flexible workspace’ covering around 30,000 square feet.
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As the proposal goes on to explain: “The vision for an expanded Edgeley Park includes brand new East (Railway) and South (Together/Popular) Stands, bringing each roughly in line with the height of the existing Cheadle End, and an expansion to the North (Danny Bergara) Stand to run the full length of the pitch.”
While there are currently no plans to expand the Cheadle End itself – currently the biggest stand – fans will likely have a clearer picture of what the ground could look like in the near future, with the Railway End the first to be addressed starting summer 2023.
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Public consultation period
As part of the first phase of consultation, public drop-in sessions are due to be held on the following dates:
Wednesday, 28 September: 10am – 1pm and 4pm – 6.30pm, held in the 1883 suite
Thursday 29 September: 2pm – 7pm, held in the 1883 suite
Saturday, 1 October: 11am – 2pm
The October date concludes just an hour before kick-off in their scheduled fixture against Walsall, where higher-ups promise to be outside greeting and speaking to fans.
Exciting new CGIs released of £500m Therme Manchester wellness resort as construction continues
Emily Sergeant
As construction continues on Manchester’s massive wellness resort, some new CGIs have now been released.
In case you need bringing up to speed, construction of the £500 million Therme Manchester wellness resort officially began last September after several years of planning, and now developers have released some exciting new CGIs – with an update on how construction is going, as a new milestone has been reached this week.
Set to open to the public in 2029, Therme Manchester will become one of the largest urban wellbeing resorts in the world.
Visitors can expect to make the most of a 10 pools – both lagoon and wave pools included – thermal bathing, multi-sensory sauna rituals, steam rooms, 18 water slides, affordably-priced luxury spa therapies, and health and fitness experiences.
Exciting new CGIs released of Therme Manchester have been released / Credit: Supplied
At the heart of Therme Manchester will be three distinct zones, each offering a different way to spend time at the resort.
Play will bring together water-based fun and attractions for families and visitors of all ages, and Restore will focus on thermal bathing and restorative experiences designed to help visitors unwind, while Relax will offer spaces for relaxation and wellbeing.
The latest CGIs showcase the design as it develops – including the resort’s extensive indoor and outdoor spaces, and its 53,000sq ft wellbeing garden.
Construction is still underway on the £500m wellness resort / Credit: Supplied
The plans also feature a new public plaza designed to strengthen connections between the resort and the Bridgewater Canal.
Professor David Russell, CEO of Therme UK, said: “We have taken the opportunity to refine the design, improve how traffic and parking are managed and create a more welcoming environment for everyone arriving at the resort.
“We are creating an even better experience for visitors while supporting more efficient and sustainable operations.”
Therme Manchester was initially touted as a £250m project that would complete in 2025, but it’s now up to £500m and is scheduled to complete it 2029.
It marks one of the most significant building developments to ever take place in the North.
Featured Image – Supplied
Sport
Manchester City release limited-edition Blossoms shirts exclusively in new flagship store
Daisy Jackson
Manchester City have released a limited run of special Blossoms shirts, which will be available exclusively at the new flagship City Store.
Etihad Airways has donated the front-of-shirt space for the special drop, which celebrates the Stockport band’s lifelong support of Man City and will fundraise forCity in the Community’s 40th anniversary.
The Manchester City x Blossoms collab features the band’s logo across the chest of the 2024/25 season’s away shirt – one of the Club’s most popular designs in recent years.
Profits from sales of the shirts will be donated to CITC to support its 40th anniversary fundraising, which empower healthier lives with city youth through football.
Blossoms have just secured their fifth UK number one album with their latest release, ‘Songs From The Wedding Cake’, and will soon be heading on an arena tour that includes two massive shows at the Co-op Live.
There’s a very limited run of the Man City Blossoms shirts, available in sizes small to large, which will exclusively be sold at the new flagship CityStore.
The shirts have dropped in-store this morning, with further drops to be released around the band’s tour dates this November and December.
As for that new City store – it’s a whopping 21,000 sq ft, three-floor space at Medlock Square, right beside the Etihad Stadium, and is the biggest shop in the club’s history.
The new flagship has opened today in collaboration with PUMA and Stichd, and features a new, interactive ‘Make It Yours’ customisation station as well as an expanded range of Manchester City products.
Danny Jones -
22nd September 2022 
