Stockport Council has announced details of its bid to the government’s Future High Street Fund as it looks to further invest in the town centre.
The council submitted a £14.5million bid to the Future High Street Fund earlier this month as it looks to deliver its ‘StockRoom’ project.
It could also see an additional investment of £8million in re-purposing the former M&S and BHS stores.
If the bid is successful, StockRoom will sit at the heart of the town centre and will repurpose 135,000 sq ft of retail space around Adlington Walk in Merseyway Shopping Centre.
StockRoom will bring a learning and knowledge hub to town centre. It aims to celebrate the culture and creativity of the town, providing a space that encourages people to tell their story, spend leisure time, learn and celebrate their heritage.
The announcement comes on the back of the council’s launch of its One Stockport campaign in response to the corona virus crisis.
Working in collaboration with partners it will look to support the local economy, connect communities and promote health and wellbeing.
The first phase of the campaign will support the recovery process after the pandemic shutdown, to help people reopen their businesses safely and to instil confidence as we ease out of the current restrictions.
Elise Wilson, leader of Stockport Council, said: “We are currently in unprecedented and difficult times but as a council we are absolutely focused on building back better – this is our priority and forms the basis of our One Stockport campaign.
“We already have ambitious plans in place for Stockport like the transport hub, the arrival of Metrolink and a revitalised town centre, but this additional funding will really strengthen all our town centre has to offer.”
David Meller, council cabinet member for regeneration and economy, added: “This exciting development will bring more people in to the town centre and more importantly, will be somewhere that local people can enjoy for years to come. It will also act as a catalyst to attract even more investment into the town and attract major businesses like we have done with BASF relocating to Stockport Exchange.
“We have put in a really strong bid and I look forward to hearing if we have been successful later on this year.”
The government launched the Future High Street Fund in 2018, with the aim of renewing and reshaping town centres and high streets. Successful bids will be notified later this year.