The £100 MILLION town centre redevelopment of the Grand Central area has been approved (Feb 2008)by Stockport Council’s planning and highways committee.

The site is owned by property and development company Targetfollow Estates Ltd, based in Norfolk.

The plans have been designed by architects Broadway Malyan in conjunction with the ‘Future Stockport’ Town Centre Masterplan prepared by Stockport Council. The proposals include the provision of new restaurants and cafes, 200 new apartments, a new 130 room hotel, office accommodation, some convenience shops and a 1,500 space car park.

The scheme should allow improved access to Stockport railway station, which is adjacent to Grand Central. The existing swimming pool, cinema and Tenpin bowling facilities will continue to anchor the completed development which will also include a number of refurbished buildings.

Targetfollow are anticipating that work will commence in 2008 with completion in early 2010. Total costs for the scheme are estimated at £100 million.

The scheme was approved by planners despite concerns by both Victoria and Tame Valley area councillors that too few of the proposed new homes would be affordable. Council policy states that town centre developments should include 17.5 percent affordable dwellings, however developers Targetfellow will only be making 10 percent of its new homes affordable. Philip Harding, (Victoria Area councillor) who sits on the planning committee, stated: "I did not support that application - I didn’t think it was the best scheme the officers could have negotiated.The design is not of a high enough standard. I don’t think rabbit-hutch style flats is at all appropriate for that site and I don’t think there’s a demand for a 130-room hotel."

However, the redevelopment has been welcomed widely by local business owners, residents and politicians.

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