Stockport Riverside Neighbourhood Plans Reach Key Milestone 2026

Key Points

• Stockport Council has engaged CBRE to take charge of the delivery strategy for the Goyt Riverside Neighbourhood, which is a 22-acre site on Newbridge Lane.
• The development project is one of the initiatives under the Town Centre East regeneration programme that seeks to create about 4,000 homes within 15 years.
• The development will incorporate new homes, green spaces, walking and cycling paths, and will prioritize both biodiversity and flood resilience.
• Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) is spearheading the development, which has created more than 1,500 homes in the town centre since 2019.
• The overall town centre regeneration project aims to create 8,000 homes by 2040 along with 1 million square feet of employment space.
• Councillor Micheala Meikle has referred to the engagement of CBRE as a significant milestone in the replication of success witnessed at Town Centre West in the east.
• Executive Director of CBRE, Adam White, has stated that the development project represents an excellent example of creating mixed-tenure communities through devolved leadership.

Stockport (Manchester Mirror) September 01, 2026 – Plans to create a new neighbourhood along the River Goyt in uk/local/stockport/">Stockport town centre have reached what officials describe as an “important milestone” with the appointment of a specialist consultancy team to shape the future of the 22-acre site.

The Goyt Riverside Neighbourhood, centred around Newbridge Lane in the east of Stockport town centre, will see new homes, green space, and walking and cycling routes straddling the stretch of the River Goyt, according to Stockport Council. The project has now progressed with the appointment of commercial property agent CBRE, which will produce a plan on how best to develop the area, including more detailed options for new homes, public spaces, and infrastructure.

“The vision is to create a new riverside community that makes the most of its setting, supports biodiversity and flood resilience, and strengthens links with surrounding neighbourhoods and the wider town centre,” a Stockport Council spokesperson said.

CBRE has already worked on local projects including Stockport Exchange and Cheadle Eco Park, and will now carry out consultancy work for the Goyt Riverside Neighbourhood scheme. The development is being organised by Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation, a statutory body with the power to make planning, housing and investment decisions in the town centre.

How does the Town Centre East regeneration fit into Stockport’s wider plans?

The Goyt Riverside Neighbourhood is just one aspect of a wider regeneration plan called Town Centre East, which represents a 15-year vision promising revitalisation of the east of Stockport town centre with thousands of new homes, along with jobs, shops, services, and more.

In all, the Town Centre East scheme will comprise around 4,000 new homes, according to council documentation. This is in addition to the other 4,000 already planned in Town Centre West, which includes Weir Mill and Stockport 8, an eight-acre neighbourhood by Stockport Viaduct.

Both the Town Centre East and Town Centre West schemes will include affordable homes. The work forms part of the wider ambition to deliver 8,000 new homes across Stockport town centre by 2040, alongside new public spaces and key social infrastructure, as reported by Marketing Stockport.

Also falling under the Town Centre East programme are plans for “sensitive design” and regeneration around Piccadilly to complement the “civic and historic core” of Stockport town centre, plus a new Hillgate neighbourhood centred around Hempshaw Brook, which will be uncovered for the purpose.

What have council officials said about the riverside development?

Cllr Micheala Meikle, cabinet member for economy, regeneration, and skills, said:

“This appointment marks an important milestone as we look to replicate the success of regeneration in the west to the east of the town centre in a new chapter for our UK-leading regeneration.”

“The area around Newbridge Lane represents a fantastic opportunity to create a new, connected neighbourhood that offers homes for people at different stages of life, makes the most of its riverside location and provides the infrastructure needed to support a growing community,”

Cllr Meikle added.

“By appointing CBRE, we are taking the next step towards turning an ambitious vision into a realistic and deliverable plan that will help shape the future of this part of the town centre for years to come,”

she said.

As reported by journalists at Place North West, the MDC noted that more than 1,500 homes have been delivered or are on site in the town centre since its founding, with planning consent secured for another 2,200. Since 2019, £600 million private sector investment has been secured, 235,600 sq ft of employment space generated, and more than 1,500 new homes have been delivered or are on site in the town centre, according to Marketing Stockport.

What has CBRE said about leading the delivery strategy?

Adam White, executive director at CBRE, added:

“Having played a central role in bringing forward Town Centre West and authored the Strategic Regeneration Framework for Town Centre East, we have seen first-hand the transformative impact of Stockport’s regeneration.”

“Newbridge Lane is a fantastic opportunity to further demonstrate how devolved, place-based leadership, backed by government and combined authority investment, can deliver new mixed-tenure communities at the heart of our town centres by creating the conditions for private developers and capital to crowd in,”

Mr White said.

“We are delighted to be shaping the delivery strategy for this new riverside neighbourhood as Stockport continues to pioneer the model for regeneration and economic growth across the country,”

he added.

Background of the Goyt Riverside Neighbourhood development

The Goyt Riverside Neighbourhood development sits within the broader context of Stockport’s town centre regeneration, which has been described as the largest town centre regeneration in the UK. The Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation was established to drive forward this transformation, with the power to make planning, housing and investment decisions directly.

The 22 acres around Newbridge Lane will be the anchor of the borough’s 4,000-home Town Centre East masterplan, with the council aiming to create a family-friendly neighbourhood with biodiversity and flood resilience as a focus, according to Place North West. CBRE has been chosen to lead the development of the delivery strategy for Goyt Riverside Neighbourhood for Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation.

The Town Centre East Strategic Regeneration Framework (TCESRF) was authored by CBRE, and the firm has now been appointed to develop the delivery strategy for the Newbridge Lane site. Working alongside the Council and Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation, the team will explore how the vision for the surrounding area can be brought to life, including options for a mix of new homes, public spaces, infrastructure and investment.

Richards and Roberts, as reported by iNews, say the plan is to deliver 8,000 new town centre homes planned by 2040 and 1 million sq ft of employment space planned by 2040 across the town centre. According to i-paper journalist Victoria Spratt, the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation’s regeneration scheme “is understood to be a model Burnham’s team are referring to in terms of how to approach town centre regeneration.”

Prediction: How will this development affect Stockport residents and the local housing market?

The Goyt Riverside Neighbourhood development is likely to have significant implications for Stockport residents, local businesses, and the wider housing market in Greater Manchester. With 4,000 new homes planned for Town Centre East alone, and 8,000 across the whole town centre by 2040, the development will substantially increase housing supply in the area.

For local residents, the emphasis on affordable homes in both Town Centre East and Town Centre West schemes could improve access to housing for first-time buyers and those on lower incomes, though the exact proportion of affordable units has not been specified in the current announcements. The focus on biodiversity and flood resilience may also benefit existing communities by improving environmental conditions and reducing flood risk along the River Goyt.

The development is expected to attract private investment and create jobs, with the wider regeneration already securing £600 million in private sector investment since 2019 and generating 235,600 sq ft of employment space. However, as with any major regeneration scheme, there may be concerns about gentrification and whether existing residents will be able to remain in the area as property values rise.

The appointment of CBRE, which has experience with Town Centre West projects including Weir Mill, suggests the council is seeking to replicate the success of that development, which has attracted independent businesses including bars, restaurants, and a bookshop. If successful, the Goyt Riverside Neighbourhood could similarly become a destination for leisure and retail, benefiting local businesses but potentially increasing footfall and pressure on existing infrastructure.