The Town Centre – M60 Gateway Task Force met on 24 March 2026 to discuss a new investment plan that will shape the future of Stockport, Greater Manchester, for the next six years. This proposal, known as the BID 3 Business Plan, outlines how local shops and traders will collectively fund improvements to the town centre between 2027 and 2032.
During the meeting, the task force recommended that the council note the report for the upcoming business plan, which has not yet been made public. This plan follows the current term managed by Totally Stockport, which is set to end on 31 March 2027.
Under the current rules, 487 businesses pay a yearly charge of 1.25 per cent on the rateable value of their properties to fund local events and services. This generates about £400,000 every year for the town centre, and the last vote in 2021 saw nearly 90 per cent of businesses supporting the investment scheme.
The new proposal arrives as the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation boundary was expanded by Parliament in February 2026 to support a £1 billion transformation of the area. Recent efforts include a £7 million investment from the council and the National Lottery Heritage Fund to help independent businesses grow in the Underbanks area.
Local traders will eventually be asked to vote on the plan to decide which improvements and services should be prioritised for the community. If approved, the new term will run for six years rather than the usual five, providing more long-term certainty for town centre projects.
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