Member Article

Approval confirmed for Stockport regeneration project

Stockport Council has confirmed approval of plans for a major leisure development in Stockport town centre, known as Bridgefield.

Plans for the site - located between Merseyway Shopping centre and the M60 - include a nine-screen cinema, food and drink outlets, shops and a new 400-space multi-storey car park.

Refurbishment of the existing Debenhams, improvements to the frontages of surrounding buildings and improved public areas are also a part of the proposals. Councillor Iain Roberts, Executive Member for Economic Development and Regeneration at Stockport Council, said: “The development of Bridgefield is an important part of our plans for the town centre.

“We must act now to make sure Stockport can offer visitors and shoppers what they want, now and into the future.

“Leisure activities such as the cinema and restaurants will bring more people into the town centre, providing more custom for existing shops and encouraging visitors to stay into the evening. We need to invest wisely now to boost the economy, attract further investment and create the jobs of tomorrow.”

A cinema operator and food and drink outlets will be secured before the council progresses the plans. The council will borrow money to fund the development and the income from rents, business rates and growth in car parking revenue would be used to repay the loan.

A detailed and robust financial model has been developed to make sure the scheme would be financially viable for the council and council-tax payers.

The development is part of the council’s ‘Investing in Stockport’ programme – a plan to invest in key projects throughout the borough which will generate economic growth, create jobs into the future and build strong communities. The council plans to appoint a contractor in autumn 2014, start work on site in early 2015 and be open for business by autumn 2016.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .