‘Exciting’ project to transform Stockport town centre over next five years is signed off
"The MDC is going to provide massive regeneration opportunities, but allow us to reshape the town centre in line with our identity and our community values."
Plans to transform the face of Stockport town centre over the next five years have officially been signed off by local authorities.
The medium-term plan is aiming to deliver 1,000 new homes by 2023, with at least 250 being built every year until 2026.
Projects also include the redevelopment of Stockport Train Station and progressing the business case for bringing the Metrolink to the town centre.
Regeneration of ‘Town Centre West’ has already delivered the Stockport Exchange office development, as well as transforming the old sorting office into a 117-apartment scheme dubbed The Mailbox. It has been hailed as “the newest, coolest, greenest” urban village in the region by Stockport Council leader Elise Wilson.
Now, Mayor Andy Burnham and leaders from across Greater Manchester have given the go-ahead for the business plan up to 2026.
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The projects were approved at the latest meeting of the region’s combined authority.
Plans to transform Stockport town centre have been signed off by local leaders / Credit: Stockport MDCThe Stockport MDC is aiming to deliver 1,000 new homes by 2023 / Credit: Stockport MDC
Planning permission has been granted for the Royal George Village and St Thomas’ Gardens schemes, which are set to bring more than 500 homes to the town centre.
“This is obviously a new way of approaching town centre regeneration,” Mayor Andy Burnham said.
“Supporting Stockport council, Greater Manchester is bringing what it can to the table, so we do this as a joint endeavour and maximise the support available – but also work to an ambitious masterplan that can deliver a real lasting change for the town.”
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“The MDC is going to provide massive regeneration opportunities, but allow us to reshape the town centre in line with our identity and our community values,” Cllr Elise Wilson added.
“It will utilise those iconic brownfield sites, which in many cases have just sat falling into disrepair, and bring them back into life – and by doing so help protect our green belt and green spaces.
“It will support the revival of our high street and create jobs and growth, because we do see the effect that is having beyond the MDC itself.”
“The MDC is going to provide massive regeneration opportunities” / Credit: Stockport MDC
She added: “Because the benefits of the MDC will absolutely level-up Stockport and ensure we can see that positive, inclusive growth and new communities – the newest, coolest, greenest neighbourhoods.”
Leaders agreed to approve the MDC business plan for May 2021 to March 2026, as well as the action plan between now and March 2022.
Featured Image – Stockport Council / Stockport MDC
Stockport
10 of the best music videos you didn’t know were filmed in Greater Manchester
Thomas Melia
Manchester is the (self-proclaimed) city of music and as much as us Mancs may be loud and proud about our colourful music scene, it’s also good to know these artists think so too, choosing our city for some of the world’s biggest music videos.
Whether acts have come to lipsync in front of a familiar hometown set, or jetted over here to make the most of our vast landscape and scenery, Greater Manchester is no stranger to music videos.
Some are set in Oldham mansions while others were filmed live in concert, some feature global pop megastars and others star the world’s biggest rappers.
So we’ve rounded up 10 music videos you might not know were filmed right here in Greater Manchester.
10 Manchester music videos
1. ‘Hair’ – Little Mix
Gotta get him out my hair and gotta get down to this Oldham mansion instead as the four girls used this location to film their 2016 smash hit ‘Hair’.
The video sees the X-Factor girl group hosting a sleepover to forget their exes and focus on friendships instead, as they dance and sing around the grand staircase and various rooms inside of Ashcroft House.
Little Mix can be seen tucking into some delicious pizza and they’re clearly big fans of the Italian delicacy, with the homeowner revealing she got to chat with them over a slice or two after filming at midnight.
Not too far from Uppermill, anyone with a spare £2.35 million can snap this property up in a heartbeat and find themselves living in a piece of pop music history.
2. ‘Desire’ – Calvin Harris and Sam Smith
Ever wanted to do donuts at The Brick Community Stadiumin Wigan? Well Scottish DJ and producer Calvin Harris has beat you to it and he’s brought along company in the form of pop recording artist Sam Smith.
The pair are racing round Wigan as well as a few more urban settings in a host of fast cars. A BMW E46 Coupe was the perfect choice for this shot matching the same kit as home team Wigan Athletic.
This car-meet music video was released in 2023 and in true 80s/90s style, much like the instrumental, Harris and Smith dropped a translucent orange vinyl to coincide with dropping the song.
‘Desire’ was the second collaboration for the duo coming five years after its predecessor ‘Promises’ which took the world by storm in 2018.
3. ‘BeFoUr’ – Zayn
It’s not everyday you see a member of One Direction strolling the streets of Manchester, but in 2016 Zayn paid a visit to Miles Platting to create a visual pairing for his latest single ‘BeFoUr’.
Not too far from Ancoats, Malik decided the surroundings of inner city Manchester would be used as a backdrop for the music video, which assisted his debut solo studio album ‘Mind Of Mine’.
There was even a mural of the album, which acted as the music video’s opening shot, painted at this spot to commemorate the filming of the video.
The musician even tried his hand at spray-painting, writing ‘Mind Of Mine’ in graffiti in the same area.
4. ‘Great Pyramids of Stockport’ – Antony Szmierek
This track sees Szmierek discussing the northern landmark while posing right in front of it in all its shining blue-glass glory.
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From Stockport to the stunning desserts of Egypt, the spoken-word poet even got to visit the inspiration behind its British counterpart, the Pyramids of Giza.
5. ‘Perfect Me’ – Blossoms
Staying in Stockport, Manc favourites Blossoms have also shown lots of love to their hometown especially with their visuals.
The music video for ‘Perfect Me’ sees the band stopping off at multiple destinations around the Greater Manchester town including a school, a farm and even a care home.
The Gallagher brother can be seen peering over Manchester city centre from the roof of the Midland Hotel with an additional band arrangement keeping him company.
One of the speakers in the video receives a special feature too, denoting ‘MCFC Spezial’, a nod to his footwear collaboration with iconic brand Adidas.
Famous landmarks like Manchester Central and St. Peters Square can also be spotted in this 2022 video classic, as Liam professes wise words of wisdom followed by ‘Believe me, yeah’.
In his usual parka coat attire, this video is a fully-fledged homage to Manchester and the incredible thriving city it has become.
7. ‘Money Power Fame’ – Don Broco
South Midlands band Don Broco decided to travel north to shoot their video for 2019’s rock release ‘Money Power Fame’.
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Utilising the gas holders as a backdrop right next to Etihad Stadium and Manchester’s newest live music entertainment venue, Co-op Live, it’s a video filled with money, power… and fame.
The boys silhouettes are displayed in front of the large gas holder which had dominated the skyline of the Bradford area of Manchester before demolition commenced this year.
Although they may not be resident Mancs, the band have played our music-filled city over 20 times since their first visit to Satan’s Hollow back in 2009.
8. ‘Lights Out’ – Rick Astley
The King of ‘Rick-rolling’ filmed the video for his 2010 single ‘Lights Out’ right here in Manchester’s AO Arena, directed by none other than comedy legend and British-legend Peter Kay.
This was a milestone song for Astley, not only thanks to the directorial credits but also due to the fact it was his first musical release in 17 years.
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Obviously, the best place to record your comeback single is an iconic UK venue such as AO Arena’s standing section, main stage and rooftop.
The track welcomed its first play at the same venue, joining Peter Kay on his 2010 UK Tour to perform the new addition as well as his classic hits such as ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ (At least we didn’t rick-roll you).
9. ‘Fix You’ – Coldplay
Yes, believe it or not, Chris Martin paces the streets of London before making his way to the home of Bolton Wanderers football club, Toughsheet Community Stadium.
The filming of this video linked to their 2005 tour and two-day residency at the landmark stadium in Bolton, with Martin joining the rest of the band part-way through the video on stage enthralled by a crowd of over 28,000.
This song has reached untouchable levels of success and has become a staple to their touring setlist since its release much like many of their other smash-hit singles, their achievements are never-ending.
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Not too long ago in 2023, they blessed the crowds of Manchester with four back-to-back nights of musical therapy and physical therapy with fans encouraged to use static bikes while watching the show to power the show run.
10. ‘The Way I Are’ – Timbaland and Keri Hilson
The year is 2007, Timbaland has the current music scene hooked and he’s perched up with fellow American singer Keri Hilson to promote their record ‘The Way I Are’ in a basement in… Salford!
It’s safe to say the record producer and performer had the early 2000s pop and R’n’B music scene in the palm of his hands and this track definitely didn’t break that record.
Filmed in a lock-up garage on Chapel Street in Salford, catches Timbaland and Hilson dancing in a spotlight-lit setting in some rather formal office clothing.
The three football players suited and booted doing keepy-uppys were apparently supposed to be stars from that year’s Manchester United lineup, but filming took place at the same time as the FA Cup.
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Honourable Mention
‘Take Me Back To London’ (Sir Spyro Remix) – Ed Sheeran (ft. Stormzy, Jaykae and Aitch)
Ginger-haired pop sensation Ed Sheeran called upon Moston’s own Aitch to add a couple of bars to his Stormzy remix ‘Take Me Back To London’.
The video sees these cheeky chaps chopping it up in a New Moston sandwich shop, indulging in some good scran and cheers-ing their cuppas.
Sheeran started his life in the cosy Yorkshire town of Hebden Bridge just an hour away from the site of this music video and is now one of the best-selling UK artists of all time.
Fans spotted the star mid-filming and although he may not have had a guitar on hand to serenade them, he did in fact stop to take selfies with passers-by.
Music is an integral part of Manchester’s history and it’s great to see our city and its surrounding boroughs being represented throughout time and many different genres.
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Here’s to many more famous faces popping up in and around Manchester to promote their albums!
And to a certain Ms Swift, we’ve seen you filming in Liverpool… why not give this wonderful city a try?
Featured Images — Screenshots (via YouTube)
Stockport
You can spend an evening with Premier League legend Alan Shearer at Edgeley Park next month
Danny Jones
Events at Edgeley Park just keep getting more varied and exciting as football fans can now spend an evening with none other than Newcastle legend and former England striker Alan Shearer.
Stockport County‘s stadium has been developing a broad lineup of experiences outside of just the usual matchdays year upon year, having hosted everything from a headline Blossoms gig back in 2019 to an ABBA all-nighter last summer, and now they’ve just announced another ‘An Evening With’ date.
As part of the ever-expanding series under the Edgeley Park Presents banner, the next evening confirmed for the schedule is an exclusive interview, dinner and Q&A with the Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer (260), Alan Shearer.
A sporting hero for so many growing up and an everlasting icon of the English game, the 54-year-old will be heading to the home of the Hatters next month and tickets are on sale now.
🙋♂️🎟️ There's just one month to go until one of England's greatest ever goalscorers joins us at Edgeley Park…
Standard tickets for An Evening With Alan Shearer are still available to buy online – with all VIP packages now sold out! Get yours today before they go ⤵️
One of the greatest strikers the game has ever seen, the beloved Geordie made his professional debut for Southampton back in 1988 before moving to Blackburn Rovers and helping lead them to their only Premier League title in the 1994/94 season.
As one of the most prized players in the country at that point, he then snubbed the likes of the Red Devils and many more to sign for his hometown club Newcastle United the following year for a then-world record fee of £15 million. The rest, as they say, is history.
Having already made his international debut in 1991, he went on to become England‘s captain at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000, before retiring from international football. Since his retirement, Shearer has been a key pundit and long-time favourite on BBC’s Match of the Day for years.
As for the night itself, admission to the event will include a two-course dinner, an in-person interview; a Q&A session with the crowd, an auction of highly sought-after sporting memorabilia as well as a host of live entertainment.
He’s not the only UK sports personality to have hosted a similar event here either as British boxing Hall-of-Famer Joe Calzaghe also held a charity Q&A evening this past September.
The event starts at 6:30pm on Friday, 22 November 2024 and tickets are available to purchase now from the Stockport County website starting at £95.
For those willing to spend more, VIP ticket holders will also have early access to the venue to even meet Alan Shearer himself beforehand, where they will be able to grab a photo and enjoy a signing opportunity before dinner is served.
If spending An Evening with Alan Shearer at one of the fastest-growing clubs in Greater Manchester sounds up your street, you can grab your Edgeley Park Presents tickets HERE.
The ground itself also undergoing some serious redevelopment as County continue to climb up the ranks of the footballing pyramid.
The Manc -
29th June 2021 
