How Underbanks became our own Northern Quarter

Revamped district has become a 'vibrant, creative hub'

- BY DECLAN CAREY Local Democracy Service Reporter

IT'S a town on the up where loads of people want to live.

The centre of Stockport is seeing massive changes take place as new apartment blocks and offices are being built.

Yet one area of the town has stood out as different from the rest and is building its own creative community.

Stockport's Underbanks gets its name from the location - based below the market hall in the historic old town, near the River Mersey.

The conservation area traces its origins back hundreds of years and has a bright future ahead, with trendy independent bars and restaurants mixing with its shops and an explosion of street art on the walls.

But opinion is divided about whether the changes are what Stockport needs.

Ewa came to Stockport from Polish capital Warsaw and has lived in the borough for more than 20 years with her family.

She's a big fan of the Underbanks and straight away points out how clean and calm the area is on a warm Tuesday afternoon.

“We come here for drinks and food, it’s so important to have a place like this in the town and it’s great for the community, to be able to come after work or on a Friday night.

“The Underbanks is like Stockport's Northern Quarter, it’s getting better and better and it’s a beautiful place.”

Katie, 24, came to Greater Manchester from Northern Ireland for university and decided to stay after graduating.

She moved into an apartment in the Underbanks last year and said the atmosphere of Stockport town centre was a big draw.