Stockport, which was once voted the 12th worst place to live in the UK, is now looking up and has been picked as the best place to live in the North West
Just 15 years ago Stockport was a ghost town – struggling to survive in the shadow of nearby Manchester.
Industry was in decline, investment drying up, flagship stores had moved away, and its famous high street was deserted.
And it was voted the 12th worst place to live in the UK by the controversial book Crap Towns. The Merseyway shopping precinct was described as the “town’s heart” – but only if you wanted to “buy anything from Woolworths, Argos or Everything For £1”.
Visitors who walked under the precinct’s second-floor balcony risked a “shower of gob, McDonald’s fries and stones from the gangs of youths above”, the book claimed.
Fast forward to today and Stockport is a town reborn, picked by the Sunday Times as the best place to live in the North West and even nicknamed the “New Berlin”.
There’s a visible buzz, with modern homes, open green spaces, great transport links and bustling new businesses and restaurants. One of those, Cantaloupe, has even been named in the Michelin guide.
Redrock, a £45 million leisure scheme on the site of a former car park, opened in 2017 with a 10-screen cinema, restaurants, cafés, and a major multi-storey car park.
Change sped up in 2019 when Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham introduced the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC). The £1 billion scheme aimed to deliver 4,000 new homes to help tackle the housing crisis.
The MDC is now expanding its boundary, doubling its size, with the aim of delivering another 4,000 homes (8,000 in total). Plans include a new secondary school and a riverside park.
The mayor told The Mirror: “What Stockport has done is of national significance. Key is new modern, affordable residential homes, quiet green spaces and good transport links.”
Earlier this year it was announced that Manchester Bee Network tram will come to Stockport. Mr Burnham says the MDC plans for Middleton are being led by actor Steve Coogan, who hails from Stockport, adding: “This model has gone to Middleton. Steve is invested in making it a success.”
As Manchester grows, benefits will be seen in surrounding towns, as the region enjoys the highest growth in the UK, according to Mr Burnham. He said: “We also thought about the links between the city and the town. In the past they were pitched against each other.”
Karen Jordan, 68, who has lived in the centre of Stockport since 2008, says: “There’s just a general feeling that people are beginning to flourish.”
Mark Henderson, 58, of Wally’s Finest Fruit and Veg, says: “I’ve been at this store since I was a child and I took over from my dad about 14 years ago. Things are improving. It is a nice place to live, it’s a friendly place.”
Christine Rimmer, 76, says: “I’ve seen a big change in Stockport. It used to be a dump but, since Covid we’ve seen shops in Underbank come up and there’s lots of cafes. It’s great to live here now.”
Kate, from Kate O’Brien Art in Stockport Market, who paints pictures of the town, said: “It’s really vibrant. When I first came into this market, people were like ‘Why would I want Stockport on my wall, it’s a bit of a dump?’ But I just never hear that anymore. People are really proud to be from Stockport.”
Daniel Heginbotham, 45, said: “It’s just on the up now. They’ve got things like the Maker’s Market and Foodie Friday, which everyone comes down to and takes part in. There’s a lot of people coming in here now. It’s a good place to live.”
Julie Holland, 68, of The Veterans Food Company, added: “Everyday new things are happening and new buildings are opening. The indoor market hall’s got everything anyone could ever need. I’ve seen a massive change in my lifetime. I think it’s picking up now and going the right way.”
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