Stockport is set for the next chapter of the UK’s largest town centre regeneration, as Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) has appointed Lord Gavin Barwell as its new Chair to lead the newly expanded, nationally significant transformation.
The announcement comes just two weeks after Parliament approved the first boundary extension of any MDC in the UK. The green light, driven by Stockport Council and backed by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, has set a new national precedent for town centre regeneration and reinforces Stockport’s role as a blueprint for ambitious, brownfield‑led renewal.
As Chair, Lord Barwell will help steer Stockport’s £1bn regeneration programme – forecast to reach £2bn by 2040 – with the MDC accelerating the delivery of new homes, jobs, public spaces and critical infrastructure across the expanded area.
Stockport Council has doubled its ambition for town centre living, raising its housing target from 4,000 to 8,000 new homes by 2040, ensuring a wider choice of homes for people at every stage of life. The expansion has strengthened Stockport’s ability to deliver regeneration at scale and unlock the potential of underused sites to the east of the A6 corridor, including land earmarked for a town centre secondary school and a modern health hub.
Lord Barwell, a member of the House of Lords, served as Minister of State for Housing & Planning at the Department for Communities & Local Government from July 2016 to June 2017 and then as Downing Street Chief of Staff from June 2017 to July 2019 – roles which placed him at the centre of national housing and regeneration policy.
Since leaving Government, the former MP for Croydon Central has continued to play a significant role in the housing sector as chair of the National Housing Build Council (NHBC) Foundation’s Export Panel and as a non‑executive director of Clarion Housing Group, the largest housing association in England, contributing strategic oversight and governance experience in relation to housing delivery, regeneration and community development.
His appointment was confirmed by Catherine Chilvers, Managing Director for Stockport MDC, during the MIPIM international property conference.
Stockport Council Leader, Cllr Mark Roberts, said:
“We are delighted to welcome a new Chair at this pivotal moment for Stockport. The expansion of the MDC marks a step‑change in our ambition, and with it, we are accelerating the delivery of new homes, new jobs and the social infrastructure that will benefit every community in our borough.
From its inception, Stockport MDC has been rooted in cross‑party consensus, and that unity has been one of our greatest strengths – giving investors confidence, building strong partnerships, and enabling bold decisions that keep Stockport at the forefront of UK town centre regeneration.
Lord Barwell’s depth of national housing experience will be a huge asset as we enter this next major phase, ensuring Stockport continues to set the standard for town centre renewal.”
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said:
“Stockport has been a genuine trailblazer for the Mayoral Development Corporation model, proving that working in partnership and using innovative powers can unleash ambitious, place-and people-first regeneration and deliver good growth.
The appointment of a new chair, alongside the recently approved boundary expansion, represents the start of an exciting new chapter for Stockport, with ambitious plans to deliver more homes, more jobs and more public spaces.
And what’s happening in Stockport is just the beginning, as we look to expand this approach to Middleton, Bolton, Tameside, and Oldham. MDCs are now the proven model for helping to ensure good growth benefits everyone, everywhere.”
Lord Gavin Barwell, Stockport MDC Chair, said:
“I’m delighted to take on the role of Chair at Stockport MDC. Throughout my career, I’ve had a real passion for housing and regeneration, and Stockport presents an exceptional opportunity to turn ambitious plans into meaningful change. What struck me immediately was the strength of the partnership here; the Council, the Board and local political leaders all aligned behind a shared vision for the town’s future.
I can see clear parallels with my hometown of Croydon – a proud place in its own right, with its own identity, but also part of a wider city region. That sense of place, history and potential really resonated with me.
My priority is to help turn the vision that has progressed through Parliament into reality, delivering development that benefits not only those within the MDC area but the wider borough as well. I’m also eager to continue to raise the profile of Stockport nationally, showcasing it as a genuine trailblazer and an example for other towns to learn from.”
