1. The Town Centre West Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) notes that much of the town centre is built to meet the needs of motorists. This must be balanced with the right to clean air and safe streets for the community. Removal of through traffic will allow for better and safer connections and the rejuvenation of places on the edge of the town centre, thereby improving access and enticing people in. The need for increased and enhanced ‘golden infrastructure’, relating to how our streets will be used in the future, is recognised by this SRF. These new ‘golden routes’ should be relatively free from traffic, focused on pedestrian and cyclist movement and form a clear and coherent network of squares and linear spaces that link key areas of activity across the town centre.
  2. The Town Centre East SRF recognises that east-west connections are currently fragmented and that the A6 forms a barrier to movement, with scope to improve the streetscape along this corridor and provide active travel connections. The SRF has an indicative proposal for inclusive and accessible crossings over Wellington Road South for pedestrians, cyclists and individuals with mobility impairments, together with a ‘new people-focused link’ from the A6 towards St Peter’s Square via Lord Street to help people more easily navigate towards the retail core and Historic Heart.
  3. The River Mersey runs through the heart of the town centre but is covered over in many places. Even in relatively recent times development has turned its back on the river where it is open. The 2020 Stockport's Ecological Network report identifies the Town Centre Living Area as an opportunity area with high potential for ecological restoration. The new Stockport Interchange and public park and enhanced recreational corridors elsewhere in Town Centre West, including at Weir Mill, will provide the catalyst for an enhanced relationship with the riverfront and the provision of improved waterfront open spaces and walkways and cycle routes. This will create new environments for living and doing business in the heart of the town. Furthermore, the wider Mersey Valley Way, covering a distance of 21 kilometres, has been announced as the country's first National River Walk and is set to benefit from a £17 million package to improve access to nature.
  4. The Town Centre East SRF identifies a number of opportunities to create vibrant new green and blue assets that make the most of our natural environment and key views and improve the setting for new residential development. Key amongst these is the opening up of Hempshaw Brook, providing additional water and wetland habitat in the Town Centre Policy Areas of Middle Hillgate and Higher Hillgate. A riverside park on the River Goyt will provide the opportunity for a new destination play space that will complement the new neighbourhood proposed at New Bridge Lane.
  5. The council will support opportunities to upgrade riverside spaces and provide connections in the open parts of the Mersey corridor. Covered sections of the river are more challenging to bring forward although schemes to open them up for public access and enjoyment will be supported subject to viability considerations, the effect on town centre business and the visitor economy.
  6. Key environmental improvements will include: