Plans to transform part of Stockport town centre into the region’s ‘coolest, greenest new urban village’ have been praised by the Greater Manchester mayor.

Andy Burnham was speaking at the official launch of Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) – the body which has been set up to drive a major regeneration of ‘Stockport Town Centre West’.

The 20-year vision includes proposals for more than 3,000 new homes in a ‘walkable neighbourhood’, with ‘enviable public transport’ connections – as well as up to one million sq ft of employment space.

Addressing the event held at Stockport Exchange he hailed the town’s ‘fantastic ambition’.

He said: “It’s the first Mayoral Development Corporation focused on a town centre – again we’ve been ahead of the game, we’ve anticipated what’s been coming – that is a growing debate in the country about our towns.”

He added: “I think, you have got in this proposal you have solutions to so many of these things that as a country we are worrying about.

Stockport's town centre regeneration in pictures View gallery

“The housing crisis: this is a vehicle to put real momentum towards building more affordable homes.

“ That’s very much in the mission statement, it’s not just the newest, greenest and coolest – it’s also an affordable neighbourhood that we are building here. It’s a solution to the housing crisis.

“It’s a solution to the sense of town centre decline, it’s a solution to the transport challenge we face….it’s about meeting the climate and carbon challenge of the future.”

He continued: “This is ticking so many boxes that we have all been debating nationally but so far we’ve not come up with proper solutions.

“I think Stockport has come up with the solution and I’m determined to support it in any way I can to make it the success it deserves to be.”

However, Mr Burnham acknowledged there were ‘challenges’ ahead and that improved transport was the biggest challenge of all.

The vision for the area includes ‘a train-tram system with stops located within Town Centre West proposed to connect Stockport to the extensive Metrolink network.’

And Mr Burnham – who in July told a meeting of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) he wanted to see Stockport connected to the Metrolink within the next decade – said government backing would be crucial.

“A lot of our ambitions for Greater Manchester are I’m afraid linked to the government’s willingness to both hand us power and control of our transport system but also to invest in it.”

He added: “Providing that ease of connectivity through Metrolink is critical to the long term vision. It possibly could be built via the classic rail system it but does require the government to devolve both control and funding.”

Stockport council leader Elise Wilson said improved public transport was ‘the only way forward’ and she would continue to put pressure on Mr Burnham to bring Metrolink to Stockport.

Coun Wilson also said that she expected to see progress made sooner rather than later.

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“I think you are going to see things happening really, really quickly,” she said.

A public consultation on the ‘strategic regeneration framework’ for Stockport Town Centre West came to an end last week.