Stockport

‘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."

The Manc The Manc - 29th June 2021

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.

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 MDC
The 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.

The redevelopment of Weir Mill and a new transport interchange are also in the pipeline.

“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.”

“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

Much-maligned derelict Stockport site to be turned into town’s latest tower block

Danny Jones Danny Jones Stockport town centre's derelict Victoria House building being turned into new apartments tower block

A derelict site in the centre of Stockport is finally set to be bulldozed and turned into a brand new tower block worth a reported £70 million.

The regularly reviled Victoria House on Wellington Street, situated close to the large, grey Stopford House and opposite a local branch of Grosvenor Casinos, was built back in the 1960s – as its old metropolitan exterior makes evident – and has been tipped for redevelopment over the last decade.

Sitting on the corner of the Greek Street roundabout, it has remained mainly empty since 2019, with various developers looking to transform it into various residential reboots.

Now, nearly 10 years later, the building looks to be finally ready for the next chapter and a new lease of life, with property firm Progressive Living (PL) hoping to turn it into two main eight and 20-storey tower blocks, with tiered levels, different room capacities and rooftop spaces.

The land has been subject to plenty of urban exploration.

The former office building was once part of the nearby Jobcentre Plus branch, just down the road, not to mention one of several similar abandoned and underutilised spaces with untapped potential in the area.

Along with the demolition of the structure itself, the adjacent Fletcher Street car park that sits between Victoria House and the aforementioned casino will also make way for the apartments.

With the planning permission application submitted earlier this year and officially greenlit by Stockport Council on Thursday, 3 July,

Promising a mix of one, two and three-bed properties, the company are planning to build a total of 245 homes, though there has been some criticism regarding affordability – a significant increase on the initial idea to turn the 13,000 sq ft office unit into 21 flats some years ago.

The project will be brought to life using funds taken from the £5.7m grant set aside for the town by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Speaking on the project, PL director David Fairclough said: “We’re delighted to have secured planning for what will be a flagship scheme for Stockport.”

“This approval represents a major milestone for a project that’s been six years in the making, and we’re proud to play our part in shaping the next chapter of the town centre’s transformation.

“With demolition due to start later this year, we’re looking forward to delivering much-needed new homes in a sustainable, future-focused way.”

A CGI of what the new residential tower block in Stockport town centre will look like. (Credit: PL)

Construction is slated to start next spring, and they’re hoping to complete the project by summer 2028.

Developers hope to start demolition works this year, with construction expected to start in spring 2026, and completion targeted for Summer 2028.

Local councillor Micheala Meikle, who serves as the town’s cabinet member for regeneration, said: “This is another important step in transforming Stockport as part of the UK’s biggest town centre regeneration.

“These high-quality new homes will bring more people into the heart of the town, supporting local businesses and making the most of our new transport links.

“With the Mayoral Development Corporation delivering 8,000 new homes and Metrolink on the horizon, we’re building a town that works for the future – somewhere people choose to live, work and put down roots.

“This is exactly the kind of accessible, sustainable scheme we want to see in the town centre — creating homes for all ages as part of a thriving, low-carbon community.”

Trams are officially coming to Stockport as part of £2.5bn investment package

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Featured Images — Razor Twisted Exploring (via YouTube)/Progressive Living (press shots)

Stockport

Isaac ‘Tanto’ Olaofe has left Stockport County to join a Championship club

Danny Jones Danny Jones Tanto leaves Stockport County for Charlton

Star Stockport County striker, Isaac ‘Tanto’ Olaofe, has officially left the Greater Manchester club for a move up the English pyramid.

Affectionately referred to as Tanto by players, coaches and supporters alike, the County forward has been one of the League One side’s most regular goal threats in the last couple of years, but now the London-born footballer is heading back down south.

The 25-year-old, who joined the Hatters back in January of 2023, finished his debut season at Edgeley Park as their top scorer in the third tier with 20 goals to his name, the most of any player in an EFL season since club legend Luke Beckett in 2002/03.

More than two decades on – and besides former marksman Paddy Madden’s offensive contributions – he’s become one of the biggest and firmest fan favourites for obvious reasons. However, Tanto has now left Stockport for pastures new, joining recently promoted Championship club, Charlton Athletic FC.

Joining the second division returnees from the south-east side of the capital on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee, Olaofe leaves Stockport County having scored 37 times and registered a handful in 121 appearances.

Signing a three-year contract with the Addicks following his 24/25 campaign, which saw him register a total of 16 goal contributions, he described the switch as “a great feeling”.

Writing a message simply titled, ‘Stockport County – Thank you for everything’, on his own social media, Tanto said: “I want to thank everyone at Stockport, from the management, coaches/backroom and my teammates for the great memories, experiences, and friendships we’ve shared over the years!

“A massive shout out to the ‘heart of County’ – the supporters – for the love and support. This experience has helped to mature me and has helped in shaping me in making me the player I am today, so once again, thank you all! Up the Hatters! It’s been an amazing journey.

Meanwhile, the majority of the County faithful are understandably gutted, with one fan posting, “My kids will be absolutely gutted” (along with a picture of them together), and another adding: “First of many heartbreaks for my boys! They were thrilled to meet you, and thank you for being so good with them.”

Others have brushed past their gratitude more quickly and are simply ‘baffled’ by the decision to let him go, with one person commenting, “Why on earth have we sold him? Shocking”; most have simply put something along the lines of, ‘Cheers, now I’m crying.’

Speaking via a lengthy club statement, County CEO Simon Wilson bid a fond farewell to Olaofe: “It is with both a heavy but also proud heart that we say goodbye to Tanto, a player who has added so much to our club in the two-and-a-half years he has been here.

“I remember in his first interview, Liam asked ‘how would you describe yourself?’, to which Tanto replied ‘I like to be a nuisance for defenders’! He has been that for sure, but so much more, too.

“We will remember the special goals, like the header to equalise in the League Two Play-Off semi-final against Salford, the hat-trick vs Wrexham in the title-winning campaign, and the mazy run against Bolton last season. But more importantly, we will remember so much more of his personality and positivity, which brought so much to our environment.

“But we’ve been open in saying that the future of the Club is smart player trading, and so on presentation of this offer – which represents over 10x the original fee paid and gives a player who has given everything to the club, the opportunity to play at a higher level – we felt it was something we had to do.

To those questioning the thinking behind the move, he reiterated that the Championship hopefuls will now challenge themselves to recruit just as smartly once again. It looks like the overarching plan is to do shrewd, mindful business wherever possible.

‘Best signing of the summer’: Stockport County fans react to Dave Challinor’s new contract
Tying down ‘Chally’ was arguably the important deal of this summer.

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Featured Images — Stockport County (via website/YouTube screenshot)/Charlton Athletic (via X)

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