£14.5m cultural and creative hub to ‘mark a new chapter’ for Stockport Town Centre

Stockport is on the up!

A thriving independent shop and bar scene, great restaurants, huge new investments in places to live and a recently revamped Stockport Pyramid – the place is getting better and better.

But the town isn’t done yet. Stockroom, a £14.5m cultural and creative centre point, will capitalise on a golden period for the town, all set to open on the 24th May 2025.

Stockroom is a key part of Stockport Council’s £1 billion town centre transformation, designed to bring people together through culture, learning, and creativity.

Stockport’s Stockroom

Stockroom will be located in previously disused retail units on the Merseyway, and the build will be funded by the Future High Street Fund, part of a project to rejuvenate town centres across the UK.

It’s a space for everyone – whether exploring a book, enjoying live performances, getting creative, or simply meeting up with friends.

And there’s plenty on offer at the new space.

What will be at Stockroom?

• A brand-new town centre library:  offering a modern, welcoming space for reading, learning, and discovery.
• A dedicated children’s creative learning space: encouraging young imaginations to flourish through interactive experiences. Young people can learn new skills and benefit from cutting-edge learning and IT facilities.

• Stockroom Studios: a multi-purpose events space that will host a diverse year-round programme of activities.
• A café bar: perfect for catching up with friends or enjoying a quiet moment.
• Stockport’s historical archives: preserving the town’s rich heritage and making it accessible to all.

“A space to socialise, make friends, and access a range of great services”

Stockroom will host a dynamic exhibition programme, showcasing local talent and national cultural projects. It will ensure there’s always something new to explore in a vibrant, clean, and safe place where people can socialise, make friends, and access a range of culture and leisure activities.

Stockroom will open with a major new exhibition, Chosen Family Album. Inspired by the joy of rediscovering old photos, the project invited the public to contribute family photographs from 1970 onwards—the same year Stockport’s iconic Merseyway Shopping Centre opened. The collection forms a shared Stockport family album, celebrating the diverse range of people and stories that make the town unique.

You can find out more about the Chosen Family Album by clicking here

Also on display will be a series of creative commissions, bringing fresh and exciting public art into the space. These commissions celebrate Stockport’s heritage, community, and creative talent, featuring large-scale murals, interactive installations, and innovative works using sustainable materials.

Mark Hunter, Leader of Stockport Council

Cllr Mark Hunter, Leader of Stockport Council, said: “The anticipation has been building, and we are absolutely thrilled to share the opening date for Stockroom. This is a key milestone in Stockport’s £1bn regeneration plans, and we’re so proud to see it come to fruition.

“Stockroom will not only offer an exciting cultural hub for the town but will play a central role in the ongoing revitalisation of the town centre. This project has been years in the making, and we can’t wait to see it open its doors and become a space that truly brings our community together.”

Cllr Helen Foster- Grime, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Sport, said: “Stockroom marks a new chapter for Stockport—one that celebrates our heritage while embracing creativity and innovation. This space belongs to everybody in Stockport, bringing people together through culture, learning, shared experiences, and fun.

“We are particularly excited about the new exhibition, Chosen Family Album, which reflects the diverse stories of our town.

“Stockroom will offer something for all ages and I’m looking forward to seeing how the community and visitors will use and enjoy it in the years to come.”

Minister for Local Growth, Alex Norris, said: “It is fantastic to hear Stockroom will be opening its doors in May, bringing the town’s vibrant community together to socialise and celebrate local creativity and culture.

“This marks another milestone moment in the council’s transformative work to the town centre and will support our national mission to boost growth and renewal across the country.”
The Future High Streets Fund (FHSF) competition aims to renew and reshape town centres and high streets in a way that improves experience, drives growth and ensures future sustainability.

In May 2021, over £830m was allocated to 72 places via the FHSF competition.

Find out more about Stockroom

To find out more about the Stockroom project, and what’s on offer, please click here