7th June 2026
Planning Officer – Dominic Harvey
Fresh questions have emerged over Stockport Council’s handling of the long-running redevelopment of Offerton Precinct, following the release of documents relating to decisions taken in 2012.
Council papers from August 2012 show that the authority backed revised arrangements with developer Tenbest Ltd, a company which already owned a significant part of the precinct and was seeking to deliver a supermarket-led redevelopment scheme.
At the time, council officers described the regeneration of Offerton Precinct as a long-standing priority and warned that compulsory purchase powers could be lost unless decisive action was taken before key deadlines expired.
However, critics argue that the Council’s approach overlooked a potentially stronger alternative.
According to those familiar with the project, another developer had expressed interest in delivering the scheme. They claim this alternative was locally based, had a strong reputation for delivering high-quality developments, and possessed a more credible track record than the developer ultimately favoured by the Council.
Critics contend that the alternative proposal was effectively squeezed out, leaving control of the project in the hands of the existing precinct owners despite concerns about their financial strength and previous development performance.
The Council report itself acknowledges a number of risks associated with the Tenbest arrangement. These included the possibility that land acquisition costs could exceed the developer’s contribution, potentially exposing the Council to financial liabilities. Officers nevertheless recommended proceeding, citing independent valuation advice and the prospect of finally securing redevelopment after years of delay.
The documents do not contain evidence of wrongdoing by councillors or officers. Instead, they reveal a difficult commercial decision made under significant time pressure, with the Council facing the prospect of losing compulsory purchase powers if progress was not made.
The key question for many local residents is whether the Council backed the right development partner.
Supporters of the 2012 decision may argue that the Council was working with the principal landowner and pursuing the most realistic route to achieving long-promised regeneration. Critics, however, maintain that a more capable and financially secure developer should have been selected and that the decision contributed to years of delay and uncertainty for Offerton village centre.
With regeneration continuing to be a major issue across the borough, the Offerton Precinct saga remains a case study in how crucial decisions about development partners can shape the future of local communities for years to come.
Tenbest, awarded the contract they failed to deliver on, had let the precinct get into this state.
Were due diligence checks carried out before they were awarded the contract? They ran hundreds of companies run from this lock-up shop in London, premises shared with their own accountants.
