Parliament approved the expansion of the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation on 23 February 2026, clearing the way for thousands of new homes and better transport in Stockport, Greater Manchester. This decision triples the size of the area being improved, which now covers the entire town centre to support long-term growth for the community.
The project sets a goal to build 8,000 new homes by 2040 through a partnership between the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Stockport Council, and the national housing agency Homes England. This effort is designed to turn the town into a leading example of how to refresh urban areas with modern housing and infrastructure.
Mayor Andy Burnham has connected the town centre plans to wider regional funding, including the £1bn Good Growth Fund. The investment also supports the expansion of the Bee Network bus services, which will now include 24-hour night buses to help residents get to work and socialise at any time of day.
The expansion is a first for the UK and gives local leaders more power to coordinate the development of retail, office, and social spaces. This follows recent developments in the borough, such as the opening of the new transport interchange and the business district known as Stockport Exchange.
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