Stockport is well and truly on the radar as a property investment target, and there’s plenty more to come for this vastly improving town in Greater Manchester.
Last week saw the grand opening of the brand-new, £140 million transport interchange in the centre of Stockport, marking a huge transformation that has been underway for a number of years for the town.
The project includes a two-acre public park, with the new interchange being constructed on the site of the former main bus station, and this huge improvement to the town’s transport options is set to continue the momentum already building in Stockport.
The new facility features 18 bus stands accommodating up to 164 departures each hour, while walking and cycling links also connect the site to the main train station.
Meanwhile, Bee Network, which is Transport for Greater Manchester’s new integrated transport network which includes bus, tram, cycling and walking routes, is also set to be rolled out to Stockport by next January.
The Network launched its second phase on Sunday (24th March), bringing it to Oldham, Rochdale, and parts of Bury, Salford and north Manchester, which will improve connectivity between these places and future locations such as Stockport.
More plans in the pipeline
Aside from the direct investment into the new transport interchange, there are plenty of new projects on the horizon that will continue to improve prospects in Stockport.
The area around the town’s main train station is also undergoing extensive regeneration, including plans to create a new public square along with 60,000 sq ft of office space, boosting options for businesses. This will encompass the potential for shops, cafes, bars and restaurants to this part of the town.
What’s more, Greater Manchester Metro Mayor Andy Burnham has revealed that Manchester Metrolink – the city’s tram system – will be extended as far as Stockport at some point in the future, further boosting the town’s already wide mix of travel options.
Further to this, the town council has proposed links between Stockport and Manchester Airport and Didsbury.
Speaking about the potential plans to extend the Metrolink, Andy Burnham said the idea was being looked at “at the moment”, adding that a decision would be made “at the middle of this year”.
“We will bring Metrolink to Stockport, the question is how quickly can we do that.”
Stockport best place to live
Just a couple of weeks ago, Stockport was making headlines after it was crowned the best place to live in the north west of England in the Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide. It was labelled “one of the most exciting towns around” by judges who visited the town.
“The historic streets around the Market Hall and the Underbanks are filling up with a joyous collection of funky independent businesses,” they said.
Council Leader Cllr Mark Hunter also had plenty of praise for the continuously improving town: “Stockport has always been pioneering and ambitious…and our £1bn town centre regeneration programme – one of the largest nationally – is reinventing and spectacularly transforming the heart of our borough now and for the future.”
And Andy Burnham said of the new and upcoming transport connections: “Safe, reliable, and affordable public transport and active travel facilities are central to improving life for people and businesses in Greater Manchester. I have no doubt this impressive new interchange will do just that.
“These new connections will open up more opportunities for people to access jobs, skills and education while supporting the regeneration of the area by attracting increased footfall and investment.”
