Local residents are being put at the centre of regeneration decisions in Stockport after the borough's MP outlined a programme of community-led research and consultation designed to steer major investment.
People, not politicians, deciding priorities
Navendu Mishra, MP for Stockport, says he has launched a series of surveys and research projects so people living in the borough can record their views on local services, amenities and regeneration plans. He says the approach aims to make sure public money is directed according to local need rather than decisions made solely by politicians.
One of the most significant pledges highlighted is the £20 million Pride in Place programme for Brinnington, which Mr Mishra says will place residents at the heart of decisions on how the funds are used.
"The people who know Stockport best are the people who live here,"
That phrase, used by the MP in explaining his approach, underpins a campaign to ensure investment reaches communities that have felt overlooked in the past.
Reddish Baths: residents' views shaping the outcome
The MP also detailed work in Reddish where more than 950 residents responded to a local survey about the future of Reddish Baths and wider regeneration in the area. Mr Mishra says the responses helped build a picture of what people value and what they want from investment.
He added that evidence gathered locally has been taken to Westminster to raise the concerns and aspirations of Stockport residents directly with ministers.
Local impact and what this means for residents
For people living in neighbourhoods targeted by the work, the shift emphasises participation at every stage of renewal projects. It also aims to direct resources proportionately so parts of the borough that have not benefited from previous funding receive targeted support.
- Brinnington: Pride in Place, £20 million funding with resident-led decision-making.
- Reddish: Survey of over 950 residents on Reddish Baths and regeneration priorities.
- Borough-wide: Ongoing local surveys to capture community views on services and development.
Stockport Council and local community groups have previously run consultation exercises on projects across the borough; this initiative from the MP seeks to complement those efforts by collating residents' priorities and presenting them at national level.
| Area | Activity | Key figure |
|---|---|---|
| Brinnington | Pride in Place funding | £20,000,000 |
| Reddish | Resident survey on baths and regeneration | 950+ responses |
Residents who want to know more about specific consultations or how to contribute should look for announcements from their local councillors, community groups and the MP's office. Participation in these exercises will be important if local people are to influence how the funding is spent in their neighbourhoods.
The move reflects a broader trend in local politics towards participatory approaches to planning and investment. For Stockport, the success of the programmes will be judged by whether community priorities end up reflected in concrete projects and improved local services.
