It's been lauded as a 'beacon of life' outside the so-called 'Northern Powerhouse's' big urban areas.
Stockport is changing beyond all recognition. Leaders say it's a revolution.
Billions of pounds is going into transforming the town centre and beyond.
Now the latest part of the mammoth masterplan has been revealed.
Computer-generated images of how the town's main shopping destination - Merseyway - have been handed exclusively to the Local Democracy Reporting Service and the Manchester Evening News.
The first stage of the proposed overhaul involves the refurbishment of Adlington Walk - a covered area that links the main mall to Chestergate and the Old Town.
It includes a new 'hotel lobby' style entrance to the centre; new stairs and lift; and the re-fronting of existing shops to create a 'contemporary, uniform appearance'.
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The scheme also features enhanced links to historic areas of the town centre, and the new transport interchange opening in 2022.
Facilities will include a soft play space for children; new seating and buggy stores; and 'high-grade' public toilets.
There will also be new parent and child facilities and a multi-faith prayer room.
Dramatic plans to build a £120m transport interchange - with a public park on top - in Stockport town centre were approved in March.
Blueprints also include a 17-storey tower block with almost 200 flats next to the viaduct.
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In addition, alterations to the grade II listed Wellington Bridge, that will create an access route to the park, train station, and River Mersey have also been given the green-light.
The new hub will stand in the shadows of the famous viaduct arches and is set to become the epicentre of the local transport network.
Town hall chiefs say they are confident it will eventually welcome trams.
The huge scheme is just one element of the council's £1bn town centre overhaul that will create thousands of new homes - make improvements to transport links and will, hopefully, drive traffic out of town.
A huge new cinema and leisure complex by the M60 have already been built.
A Holiday Inn Express hotel; a new public area outside the train station; a 1,000 space multi-storey car park are also open for business.
In a recent piece for the Financial Times, economist, vice chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership and ex-government minister and Jim O'Neill - brought up in Gatley - said Stockport 'offers Britain’s towns a blueprint for revival'.
He said the town is giving 'the city of York a run for its money as a beacon of life outside the Northern Powerhouse’s big urban areas'.
Councillor David Meller, the council's new cabinet member for economy and regeneration, said residents' views would be crucial to the development of the plans.
He said: "With retail changing so rapidly, the Adlington Walk and wider Merseyway plans show how serious we are in making our town centre fit for the future.
"The Adlington Walk plans aim to make Merseyway more accessible and attractive to visitors, while also acting as new, attractive gateway onto Great Underbank and into the town centre's rich heritage.
"But it's vital we bring people with us and the consultation days are absolutely key to that: this is Stockport's shopping centre, so people's thoughts on the plans are absolutely essential.
"Their views will help shape Merseyway - and with it - Stockport's future. I can't wait to hear what people think."
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