Stockport, a town in Greater Manchester once known for having the highest number of empty shops in Britain, has undergone a significant economic and urban transformation over the past decade and a half. After experiencing a 24% economic growth between 2008 and 2018, the town is now in the midst of a comprehensive regeneration plan valued at around £2 billion, which has also attracted about £600 million in private investment. This turnaround has drawn attention from national policymakers, including Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who views Stockport’s development model as a potential blueprint for revitalizing other towns across the UK.

A central feature of Stockport’s regeneration has been the establishment of a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) in 2019, endorsed by Burnham during his tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester. Development corporations are specialized public bodies with powers to grant planning permission directly and compulsorily purchase land, enabling them to accelerate large-scale regeneration projects. Historically, such entities have been instrumental in post-World War II new town developments and more recently in the regeneration efforts around the 2012 London Olympics in Stratford.

Since its inception, Stockport’s MDC has overseen the creation of approximately 1,200 new homes, with a further 1,500 planned, alongside significant infrastructure projects such as the new Stockport Interchange transport hub. The broader strategy includes delivering 8,000 new homes and one million square feet of employment space in the town centre by 2040. Notable among recent developments is Weir Mill, a £60 million project converting an 18th-century cotton mill into 253 residential units, communal event spaces, and what is considered the UK's first sports bar dedicated exclusively to women's sports. The project has been funded through a mix of private investment and public sector grants and loans.

Council officials emphasize that Stockport’s political landscape, characterized by coalition governance rather than single-party control, has necessitated a collaborative approach to development. This inclusive governance style is seen as a factor in the successful implementation of the MDC’s plans. Deputy Chief Executive of Stockport Council, Paul Richards, noted Prime Minister Burnham’s active involvement and personal stake in the project’s success.

While the regeneration has been largely welcomed, there has been some criticism, particularly concerning housing affordability. Build-to-rent developments, including units in Weir Mill, have reportedly come with relatively high rents, such as around £1,600 per month for a two-bedroom flat. However, efforts to address housing diversity and affordability continue, with social rent and rent-to-buy schemes underway at other sites like Hatters Yard.

The Stockport experience also highlights the tensions inherent in balancing development with environmental concerns. In 2020, the Stockport Council chose to withdraw from the Greater Manchester-wide housing strategy, aiming to protect local green belt land. Under Burnham’s administration, regional mayors received increased authority to overrule local councils rejecting new housing projects, reflecting the ongoing challenge of accommodating growth while preserving community priorities.

Although Burnham did not initiate Stockport’s economic resurgence, the town’s development approach has clearly influenced his broader vision for regional devolution and national growth. Following Stockport’s example, Burnham’s successor as Mayor of Greater Manchester, Bev Craig, is currently establishing a development corporation for Ashton-under-Lyne, and similar corporations have been created elsewhere, including the Cambridge area as part of the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor. This suggests that the use of MDCs may become more central to the government’s strategy for revitalizing towns and expanding housing provision across England.