Stockport is setting a new national benchmark for town centre regeneration after Parliament approved the expansion of the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) – the first time such an extension has ever been granted in the UK.
The move triples the MDC’s boundary, taking it from 130 to 410 acres and placing the entire town centre within its remit.
Stockport is the UK’s first Mayoral Development Corporation
Launched in 2019 as the UK’s first Mayoral Development Corporation focused on a town, Stockport MDC has already delivered a wave of transformation.
The Parliamentary approval, driven by Stockport Council and backed by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, cements the model as a national blueprint for urban renewal.
A £2 billion vision for Stockport in 2040
The expansion marks the next phase in Stockport’s £1 billion regeneration journey – projected to grow to £2 billion by 2040.
With the new powers and scale, the council has doubled its ambition for town centre living, raising its target from 4,000 to 8,000 new homes.
These will offer a broader mix of affordable, social, and private housing, ensuring that the town centre can support residents at every stage of life.
The wider boundary will also unlock underused sites east of the A6, outlined in the Town Centre East Strategic Regeneration Framework.
The plan envisions high-quality homes, a new health hub, a secondary school, office space, and landscaped public areas connected by improved walking and cycling routes.
Stockport MDC has attracted over £600 million in private investment
Since its inception, Stockport MDC has attracted over £600 million in private investment, delivered 1,200 new homes (with 1,500 more starting this year), and established the acclaimed Stockport Exchange – a 170,000 sq ft business district now entering its fifth phase.
Other highlights include:
- Stockport Interchange, a cutting-edge transport hub with a two-acre rooftop park – the first of its kind in Europe.
- Weir Mill, a historic mill transformed into a mixed-use neighbourhood with homes, green spaces, and independent shops.
- Platform and Chestergate, new developments bringing more affordable homes to the heart of the town.
Next on the horizon is Stockport 8, a flagship eight-acre neighbourhood beside the town’s iconic viaduct. In partnership with ECF and supported by the Greater Manchester Good Growth Fund, it will deliver 1,300 sustainable homes alongside new public squares and community spaces.
Stockport is one of the Sunday Times’ Best Places to Live in the North West
In recent years, Stockport has earned acclaim as one of the Sunday Times’ Best Places to Live in the North West and one of Which?’s best places to retire.
Cllr Mark Roberts, Leader of Stockport Council, called the Parliamentary approval a “landmark moment” for the town:
“Momentum is only building, with others now looking to our model as a blueprint for what successful town centre regeneration can achieve. With the boundary covering the whole town centre, we can accelerate the delivery of new homes, jobs, and opportunities that benefit residents across the borough.”
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham praised Stockport as a “trailblazer” for innovative urban policy, saying the MDC model is “being rolled out to other places across Greater Manchester so that more areas can benefit from good growth.”