Stockport rise from ghost town to thriving food destination | Manchester News

Almost 15 years ago, Stockport was revealed as having the highest number of empty shops among large towns in the UK.

But fast forward to the present day and this town centre in Greater Manchester is thriving.

Years of investment in regeneration projects are paying off – so much so the town has earned an unlikely nickname as the “new Berlin”.

“My dad would have come here 20 years ago and he would have called it a ghost town,” says James Baygoff, who has lived in the Edgeley area of the borough all his life .

“Now, if we drag him to a Foodie Friday he can’t believe it. He can’t believe his eyes from what it used to be like.”

Foodie Friday first launched in Stockport 10 years ago – the brainchild of the Barratt family.

“Foodie Friday is the busiest night in Stockport,” says John Barratt.

“It’s busier for the pubs and venues than New Year’s Eve.”

I can see his point. As I try and work my way round the 25 outdoor food stalls, each offering their own local culinary speciality, it is nearly impossible to move around.

“Back in the 80s and 90s, Stockport Market and the underbanks were really busy,” says John.

“But obviously with things like the internet and everything else that affected the economy, people stopped coming in.”

In 2012, Stockport was selected as one of Mary Portas’ pilot towns, receiving a £100,000 grant in a government scheme aimed at revitalising town centres.

John’s son, Joe Barratt, 32, was behind the bid, who used the money to launch the culinary event.

“Ten years ago I didn’t feel that Stockport had anything for me or for people my age,” says Joe, who is the deputy leader of the town’s Labour Group.

“Foodie Friday was effectively the catalyst that led to people from around Stockport and the wider region start to see Stockport in a different light.”

The borough is currently undergoing a £1bn regeneration scheme, the largest in the UK.

Stockport was the first town to have a mayoral development corporation.

The board, launched by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, has so far attracted £600 million in private investment and delivered 1,200 new homes, 170,000 sq ft of Grade A office space, and a new transport interchange.

Edgeley Park, the home of Stockport County Football Club, has also received a £50m expansion approved and just last week, 1,300 new homes for the town centre were given the green light.

Last year, the borough was named as one of the best places to live in the north west.

The newly-elected Lib Dem council leader meets me in the town’s new library, which has undergone an £8m renovation.

“We have a mature approach [to local politics],” says councillor Mark Roberts, when discussing the fact no political group has overall control of the council.

“We may disagree on many things, but when it comes to Stockport’s regeneration, we all have a shared approach.

“That doesn’t happen everywhere.”

In June, Mr Burnham announced the long-awaited tram extension would be coming to the borough.

With a direct route to London Euston and a seven-minute train journey to Manchester Piccadilly, the borough clearly has its geographical advantages.

With growing commuter links, the town is attracting young professionals – amongst them is Anya, who bought a home with her partner in Stockport.

She says “there is a wave of optimism in Stockport” which is clearly evident during my visit to the town.