The government has made the Stockport Town Centre Mayoral Development Corporation (Establishment) Order 2026, creating a statutory corporation for the designated town centre area. The instrument was laid before Parliament on 19 January 2026 under the made negative procedure and provides for commencement on 23 February 2026. (statutoryinstruments.parliament.uk)
The Order relies on section 198 of the Localism Act 2011, which requires the Secretary of State to establish a corporation once notified of a mayoral designation, as applied to Greater Manchester by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (Functions and Amendment) Order 2017. Together these provisions supply the legal basis for the new body. (legislation.gov.uk)
Article 2 defines the Mayoral development area by reference to a red‑line map titled “Map referred to in the Stockport Town Centre Mayoral Development Corporation (Establishment) Order 2026”. Prints are deposited for free inspection by appointment at 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF and at the GMCA offices, Tootal Buildings, 56 Oxford Street, Manchester M1 6EU. GMCA has also published a boundary plan online. (greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk)
Article 3 establishes the corporation named “Stockport Town Centre Mayoral Development Corporation”. The instrument is signed on 15 January 2026 by Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Miatta Fahnbulleh for the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, consistent with recent establishment orders for other MDCs.
The Order follows the Mayor of Greater Manchester’s formal designation of a Mayoral development area for Stockport Town Centre on 20 October 2025, after a six‑week consultation (15 May–26 June 2025) and endorsement by the Combined Authority on 26 September 2025. The Mayor indicated at that point that establishment would follow by Order. (greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk)
This instrument is distinct from the 2019 Order that created the Stockport Town Centre West Mayoral Development Corporation. That earlier corporation remains established in law; the 2026 Order creates a separate corporation for the wider town centre area designated in 2025. Any consolidation or transfers would require further legislation. (legislation.gov.uk)
On commencement, the new corporation will exist as a statutory body with the general regeneration and land powers available to MDCs under Part 8 of the 2011 Act. The Establishment Order does not itself transfer local planning authority functions; those would require a separate planning functions order or direction. Recent practice with the Oxford Street Development Corporation indicates this sequencing. (legislation.gov.uk)
The Explanatory Note states no full impact assessment has been produced, as no significant impact is foreseen. For applicants and landowners inside the red line, the immediate position is unchanged until any later planning functions order-Stockport Council remains the decision‑maker for planning applications while the corporation readies its governance, appointments and programme.