Town's 'walkable neighbourhood' design unveiled

Designs for a £250m "walkable neighbourhood", green space and leisure facilities have been unveiled as part of a town's regeneration plans.

The £250m scheme, known as "Stockport 8" is the latest stage of Stockport town centre’s redevelopment, and will provide a major boost to housing and business space in the borough on King Street West, by the viaduct, the council's report says.

The work is a joint venture between Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation and The English Cities Fund.

Stockport Council said the scheme would bring "life back to what was once a thriving residential neighbourhood".

It promises to deliver 1,200 new homes and and the creation of a new "walkable neighbourhood" with leisure amenities and new green spaces.

The scheme is expected to "reconnect the site to nearby neighbourhoods and the town centre, bringing life back to what was once a thriving residential neighbourhood under the railway arches".

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said a full planning application for "Stockport 8" would be submitted later this year.

An environmental scoping report stated that there were buried ruins at the location which could be damaged during work - including a Roman road and remains of workers’ housing from the 19th century, among other sites.

They could be excavated and recorded before construction work begins.

Major regeneration work is currently taking place around Stockport, with a £1bn transformation underway to revive the former industrial town.

The planned Stockport 8 site is located close to other developments, including restoration work at Weir Mill, a historic cotton works which is being made into new homes, and includes space for independent businesses.

Stockport also has a new transport interchange, which is expected to allow a future Metrolink expansion.

Over the next few years, thousands of new homes are being planned around the borough, with new apartments set to open in the town centre.

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