Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Future Stockport, 1/11/05

Extracts from a recent SMBC website article -

It’s one year since Future Stockport – the £500m regeneration scheme for Stockport town centre – was unveiled to the public, ...

...a number of residential and business developments are underway. These include...; Mealhouse Brow (28 flats & retail space), Wellington Street (22 apartments & office space), Hillgate - SK South (94 apartments) and Greenhale House (96 apartments).

One of Future Stockport’s key proposals was the development of high quality public spaces within the town centre. ... St Peter’s Square was highlighted as ... under-utilised and dominated by traffic, but one which had the scope to become a major new public square with links to the Market Place and Mersey Square. Early designs show more pedestrian-friendly areas, reduced traffic levels and a destination that encourages new leisure and evening use, with cafés, bars and restaurants. ...

Sandy Penfold, Project Director for the Town Centre, commented: “The St Petersgate and St Peter’s Square project is fundamental to the success of the whole vision and will provide a setting for cafés, bars and restaurants to be enjoyed by workers, shoppers and visitors to the town. Well designed open spaces, which give priority to people over vehicles, are part of what people expect from a town centre – a green, vibrant space in which to relax and enjoy the outdoors.”

Future Stockport ... proposals outline the growth of the main shopping area around Merseyway by up to a third. This will be supported by growth in the adjoining retail areas, such as the Market Place, Portwood and the Peel Centre. ...

...The Market Place has also seen investment with the next big project being the refurbishment and regeneration of the Covered Market Hall.
...
Already the regeneration of the town centre is making an impact, with a 30% growth in new residential units and new full-time and part-time jobs. Boosted by sustained public and private sector interest, the future for Stockport remains bright.


In the news:
Boom time for Stockport, 7 Oct 05