Stockport is a hive of activity at the moment, with regeneration projects springing up all over the Greater Manchester town and bringing underused areas back to life.
Stockport’s industrial heritage is being combined with modern redevelopment in a series of new projects being undertaken across the town. The town has even been hailed as a blueprint for high street regeneration thanks to its ongoing transformation.
Some of the most exciting work is taking place in the hugely popular Underbanks area, which is a hub within Stockport known for its independent shops and its relaxed, Old Town vibe. Sometimes referred to as the Soho of the North, it is already one of the trendiest places in town.
Stockport’s regeneration projects
While the city of Manchester, which is just 10 minutes away by train, is still a hugely popular place to live, Stockport is becoming a major competitor as a nearby commuter town. People who live there can have the best of both worlds: access to the jobs and amenities of the city, with a local town feel to come home to.
There are plenty of amenities in Stockport, with independent cafes, bars and shops, and the scene there is only getting more varied and diverse as new businesses continue to set up in the town. Yet property prices – both to buy and to rent – in Stockport can still be much more affordable than Manchester, which can be a major draw, particularly in the current climate. However, the regeneration efforts in the town will most definitely add value to the residential property there with house prices set to increase over the coming years.
The regeneration efforts in the town are huge driving factor for people looking to move to and invest in the town. Notably, the public transport system is having a major upgrade at the moment. A new transport interchange is currently under construction as part of a huge £1bn investment into the town, which will include a covered passenger concourse, cycle storage, and 18 new bus stands to accommodate 168 departures per hour, further enhancing resident’s options to commute into Manchester city centre.
There will even be include a two-acre park installed above the interchange, adding to the area’s green space. A few weeks ago, Willmott Dixon’s new cycle and walking bridge – connecting the interchange to the town and improving access for all – was lifted into place. You can see the video here.
In a further bid to modernise transport options, the council recently secured a £15m investment into electric vehicle charging across the town. Meanwhile, work is well underway on the town’s latest new office buildings, which are being built as part of the £145m Stockport Exchange and the £500m Town Centre West Masterplan.
Stockport is in the early stages of a huge transformation and investors are keen to get in ahead of the market.
The Underbanks
Most recently, work has started on St Mary’s Gate, a residential and commercial development containing 50 one- and two-bedroom apartments right in the heart of Underbanks. The flats are available to buy now, off-plan from £173,000, so buyers can get ahead of the thriving Stockport market.
You can see a video update of the St Mary’s Gate project here. Get in touch with BuyAssociation to find out more about investing in one of the apartments.
Speaking recently about developer Hall & Co’s upcoming projects across Stockport, which includes St Mary’s Gate, the company’s director Jamie Hall pointed out that the latest development work is important to both retain Stockport’s character and history and also to ensure the town continues to thrive.
“This project has been in the making for some time, working closely with the team at Stockport Council to ensure that each of the new buildings will be in keeping with the wider Underbanks conservation area,” he said.
“It’s a hugely popular – and historically valuable – part of Stockport, so it’s great to be able to give these underused sites a new lease of life, while creating high-quality new apartments and more space for the independents that have played such a huge role in the revival of the Underbanks in recent years.”
He added: “It is fantastic to be able to invest further in Stockport, maintaining the character and history of the Underbanks and contributing to the creation of a thriving town centre. It’s a really exciting project and we look forward to getting started early next year.”
