Stockport

[heatonparkincakes]

Choke from car fumes I guess.

Await to be part of a supermarket "hub?"

Become part of a game of retail Russian roulette and wait for the first one to perish?

Stick it out I really suspect Jonny.

[link_road_17/7]

ASDA is in a very difficult position. Due to the (monolithic) size of the building, and its position, both in height and above roads, it is difficult to see what they can do other than continually refurbish, which they have done numerous times already! I cannot think of many other potential development sites for ASDA, seeing as the rest are landbanked.

[davey_jim]

ASDA were the preferred developers for the site, I don't know what changed for Sainsbury's to get it though.

The council did a report a few years ago which listed hundreds of reasons as to why the site at ASDA needs to be gotten rid of, e.g. Covers the river, blocks views of the market and Church, no active frontages.

I've always hoped that the site could be cleared to create an extension of an Underbank-type historic area, encouraging independent retailers with affordable accomodation above. Just like Rostron Brow and the similar plans for the old Italian Restuarant on Lower Hillgate.

[jonnyaa]

Yes Jim it would be a great for that area of stockport if the asda site was cleared it would really open up the area.
I am dreaming but maybe as the council are now one of if not the largest developer in stockport they could get things moving and find another home for asda.

[jonnyaa]

Asda......What about the area/site across the M60 from the Pyramid ?

[Gerbil]

“This investment demonstrates Stockport’s appeal as a location and the growing confidence in our borough. We are continuing to attract investment and are bucking the trend during tough economic times.”

How does a place for local people to buy imported goods bring in money to the region? Why are there "out-of-town" shopping centres in the middle of the town?

I have an idea to improve Stockport - it involves a large bulldozer.

[link_road_17/7]

Exactly. All these new (road-based) developments do is export money mostly elsewhere. It is a process that has been happening for years with the death of local district centres and certain towns, such as Dudley with Merry Hill, Rotherham with Meadowhall, Morley with White Rose Centre, etc.

The road and motoring lobby are well within the hooked British psyche of driving *everywhere*. Until it is weened off, the decline will continue.

Fact is people who shop by car might spend more, but they visit LESS. If alternatives (such as walking, cycling, buses, trams, Park and Ride, etc.) would visit more often, and then spend more overall.

Pie-man obviously doesn't understand that.

[DiscoSteve]

Yep bring back Andrew Square (buried under Asda)

[flange]

Grand Central buy signals intent, says Goddard

2nd February 2011

THE £15m purchase of the Grand Central site in Stockport signifies the council's intent in leading the transformation of the town centre, according to leader Cllr Dave Goddard.

Goddard told TheBusinessDesk.com said that it had already received "lots of interest" from potential development partners who could bring forward a £100m scheme of prime office space, a hotel and car parking.

"We''ll be issuing an OJEU notice shortly," he said, which will spark a process that will lead to the selection of a preferred bidder.

Goddard said that he envisaged any development would greatly improve the link between its train station - the busiest outside London for first-class bookings on the West Coast main line - and the main A6 thoroughfare.

"I want that wow factor to be created when you step out of a station like you get at Sheffield that you're in a place where things are happening. At the moment, you come out of Stockport station at the back of two sheds with big cooling fans belonging to the cinema and the bowling alley."

He also believes there are opportunities for the station's owner, Network Rail, to develop first class waiting rooms and other facilities to improve the station.

"Let's make the experience better than walking out onto a car park."

Goddard expects Greater Manchester Pension Venture Fund to begin work on the adjacent Royal Mail sorting office bought last year, which it is also planning to convert into offices and a hotel. "That's a big piece of real estate and that opens up the whole area. Its around a quarter of the town centre."

He said the council also remained in contact with Bradford & Bingley, which owns the Merseyway shopping centre about improvements that could be made to underpin the value of their asset.

"Obviously, we're not looking to buy that having just spent on Grand Central. But we are trying to say to people, if you won't do it, we will."

He added that the centre's owners had been encouraged by three new lettings within the past three months, including one to Primark.

"Alright, it's not Harrods or John Lewis but it create a lot of footfall and lots of towns would love to have one," he said.

Simon Bedford, head of economic development at Drivers Jonas, which is advising the council on its development strategy, described the compulsory purchase as "a bold move".

"They're essentially putting a massive effort into making sure that the scheme happens and they need to be applauded for their will," he added.

http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news

[jrb]

MEN.

Office district is key to Stockport revampMarch 14, 2011
Submit Comments | Printable VersionPrevious | NextA new 250,000 sq ft office district may be created around Stockport station.
The idea is a centrepiece for a vision for Stockport town centre which has been unveiled to property developers.
Stockport has set out how it will revamp shops and create an office district. This is part of plans for the area around the railway station and the Grand Central leisure complex which the council bought from Targetfollow last year for £15m.
It is understood the plan could see five or more office blocks, each of around 50,000 sq ft. There are also plans for a core retail centre including Merseyway, Bridgefield and Knightsbridge; an historic cultural quarter and residential community.
Coun Dave Goddard, leader of Stockport council, said: “This has focused our aspirations.
“We have a gem of a location for national companies who want all the benefits of a big conurbation and immediate connectivity to the rest of the UK.”
The council has worked with Drivers Jonas Deloitte to develop its prospectus.
Stockport is already attracting new office occupiers. Last month, media giant Sky signed up for new space at Dutch developer BAM Properties’ St Peter’s Square office scheme.
Neil Mort, development manager of Salford-based BAM Properties, said: “The Sky letting is a great start to 2011.”

[jrb]

May have been posted?

http://dev.propellerdigital.biz/spark/index.html

[DiscoSteve]

says only NissanInfiniti and Big Yellow something are there - I've heard it from a source that Guy Salmon Landrover are also moving down there

I do think the traffic will be a nightmare getting on and off the site though

[pixel2006]

Originally Posted by DiscoSteve

I do think the traffic will be a nightmare getting on and off the site though

I tend to agree. Although, if Ikea had been built there and had the same road configuration, it would have been gridlock.

Just need the site next to Tesco to be redeveloped and at least the north side of the M60 will look more appealing.

[pixel2006]

Shouldn't this thread be called Stockport developments?

[pixel2006]

On a roll with Stockport stuff.

Grand Central bit from the Council's Review Paper



Dumped in here as the search doesn't work for me and this seems to be where Stockport stuff is being put.

[pixel2006]

Stockport bids to be a city again (from the Council's Review Paper).

The town keeps getting knocked back, but I think it would be excellent to have a sort of Tri-City Region.

[link_road_17/7]

How can Stockport MBC afford printed propaganda at a time of cuts to public services?

Why isn't there any residential plans as part of the Grand Central development, considering its proximity to the town centre, transport links, lack of affordable housing, massive waiting lists, etc.?

Must be in a parallel universe at Stopford House.......

[pixel2006]

Originally Posted by link_road_17/7

How can Stockport MBC afford printed propaganda at a time of cuts to public services?

Why isn't there any residential plans as part of the Grand Central development, considering its proximity to the town centre, transport links, lack of affordable housing, massive waiting lists, etc.?

Must be in a parallel universe at Stopford House.......

I run a training business that delivers workshops to Local Council's. We don't do many of these workshops ATM, but I can confirm that they do live in a parallel universe.

Re: affordable housing. I agree in principle and I can't believe that the fiscal stimulus wasn't concentrated on building them. But with respect to Grand Central, isn't this a great business location. Create jobs there and put the affordable houses elsewhere. And in an ideal world (puts rose tinted specs on) create jobs for local people and they might be able to part own / buy a house thus creating some housing demand.

[link_road_17/7]

Originally Posted by pixel2006

But with respect to Grand Central, isn't this a great business location.

Its slap bang next to Stockport Railway Station, with connections to London (3tph), Birmingham/West Midlands (2tph), Sheffield (2tph), and the East Midlands/East Anglia, Cardiff/South Wales, Liverpool (1tph). Close proximity to Manchester Airport, as well as the M60.

Is there much space left elsewhere (non-greenbelt) to even develop residential housing in the Stockport area? If 'The Rock' in Bury can have residential, why not Grand Central, or Bridgefield, for that matter?

[flange]

Originally Posted by jrb

May have been posted?

http://dev.propellerdigital.biz/spark/index.html

Steelwork is now up at S:Park, looks like it is for the Infiniti showroom.