Stockport Council - Quality of Life
Housing
With a diverse housing market, Stockport is able to offer a wide range of different types of home, to suit all prospective residents. The landscape, a mix of the urban and rural, provides attractive suburbs, modern townhouses, apartments and traditional country cottages. The majority of residential areas are located around a vibrant district centre, which act as a focal point for community life.
Stockport has a higher proportion of owner occupation, compared to the rest of the region and nationally. This represents a significant opportunity for secure investment, with house prices remaining one of the highest in the region, presenting a lower risk of loss in market value. Planned increases in housing stock, including affordable housing, this will ensure that Stockport remains a popular destination for prospective residents.
Education
The Manchester City Region offers, through its five universities, a high standard of both undergraduate and postgraduate studies. This includes the presence of leading higher education and research focused institutions such as the University of Manchester. This proximity to highly respected institutions of higher education, with world-class facilities and research centres, means that Stockport lays within one of the UK`s most knowledge intensive centres.
Within Stockport, there are excellent further education institutions. Stockport College provides learning opportunities at all levels, including HND/Cs and a degree programme accredited by higher education institutions. Furthermore, the college offers professional qualifications and access courses, which can secure entry to more advanced qualifications, and with a supportive and student-orientated approach. A £100 million pound investment of campus redevelopment means that the college can improve and expand on its offer range.
Culture
Stockport has a wealth of attractions, museums and galleries, each representing a different aspect of the distinct cultural history of Stockport. With a backdrop of the Peak District National Park to the east, and the rolling hills of the Cheshire plains to the south-west, Stockport is attractive tourist destination.
You can explore the cultural heritage of the borough through its award-winning attractions. Stockport Story Museum is in the town centre, and takes visitors on a fascinating journey through Stockport's history, dating back over 10,000 years through to the present day. Bramall Hall - a magnificent Tudor manor house - offers further insight into the cultural heritage of Stockport, situated south of the borough, surrounded by picturesque landscape. Theatre and music is provided by the Plaza and Garrick Theatres.
The wider Manchester City Region offers extensive cultural pursuits, from art galleries and theatres, to music venues and museums.
Recreational Activities
The borough of Stockport is over half green space, more than 43% of which is classified as greenbelt, meaning that there is wealth of parks and countryside in the borough, for outdoor pursuits.
With its huge variety of recreational spaces, a number of which have attained green flag status, the borough provides a range of opportunities for leisure pursuits, including walking and cycling along the trails of Etherow and Reddish Vale parks, through to Middlewood Way and the Trans Pennine Trail, and water activities along the canals to the east. The proximity of the Peak District allows access to more adventurous recreational pursuits, with opportunities for mountain biking, rock climbing and sailing.
The stadium of Edgeley Park is home to spectator football and rugby, and, with numerous golf courses, the borough presents a thriving choice for sports enthusiast.
Alternative Energy / Environmental Issues
Stockport is committed to securing a sustainable environment, and considered a ‘green` borough, with 52% of the area classed as greenspace, and over 43.5% is designated Green Belt. The Green Belt infiltrates throughout the borough, and even extends to the heart of the town centre.
A key drive for renewable energy, as part of the launch of major carbon reduction programme in Stockport, has included the planning and investigation program to instigate small-scale hydro projects on the borough`s weir sites.
