Stockport Council will lose one of the architects of its recent town-centre renewal after Deputy Chief Executive Paul Richards confirmed he is leaving to take up the top job at Birmingham East Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC).
Senior Stockport leader to move to Birmingham
Mr Richards, who joined Stockport Council in 2016 and later served as Chief Executive of the Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation, will leave the council on 21 November to start the new role. The council said the date will allow a smooth transition over the coming months.
During his time in Stockport he has been a central figure in planning and delivering a string of town-centre projects which the council says have helped attract investment and create homes and jobs. Named schemes include Stockroom, Weir Mill, Stockport Interchange and Stockport Exchange.
What the new role involves
At Birmingham East MDC, Mr Richards will work alongside the corporation’s chair, Dame Bernadette Kelly, to oversee what the MDC describes as an £11 billion regeneration programme covering a swathe of Birmingham city centre. The project is said to include new homes, employment space, an extension to the tram network, a new 60,000-seat Powerhouse Stadium and the HS2 terminus at Curzon Street.
“Paul has made a significant contribution to Stockport and I would like to thank him for everything he has done. The transformation seen across the borough in recent years has attracted national attention, and Paul has played a very important role in that progress alongside colleagues, partners and communities,”
The remark came from Cllr Mark Roberts, Leader of Stockport Council, who paid tribute to Mr Richards and said the appointment reflected both his leadership and the growing profile of work taking place in Stockport. The leader added that while the council would be sorry to see him leave, its ambitions would remain unchanged and major projects would continue to move forward.
Local record and implications for Stockport
Mr Richards’ departure removes a senior figure with direct experience running a mayoral development corporation and shepherding complex regeneration schemes. For Stockport, that experience has been a selling point to investors and partners and has helped keep momentum on long-term projects. The council will need to ensure continuity in delivery, maintain investor confidence and manage handovers on schemes still at critical stages.
- Departure date: 21 November
- Joined Stockport Council: 2016
- Notable Stockport projects overseen: Stockroom, Weir Mill, Stockport Interchange, Stockport Exchange
- New role: Chief Executive, Birmingham East MDC — overseeing an £11bn programme
Council sources say arrangements will be made to manage a smooth transition, but they have not yet announced who will take on his responsibilities in the short term or whether an internal promotion or external recruitment will follow.
| Year | Role / Event |
|---|---|
| 2016 | Joined Stockport Council |
| Later | Chief Executive, Stockport Mayoral Development Corporation |
| 2026 (announced) | To become Chief Executive, Birmingham East MDC on 21 November |
Stockport has gained national attention for the scale of its town-centre transformation in recent years. That profile is now set to grow further as one of its leading figures moves to a headline project in another city, but it also raises questions about how the local authority will preserve continuity and the lessons learned during a period of major change.
For residents watching new developments rise across the borough, the immediate concern will be maintaining delivery timetables, protecting planned jobs and homes, and ensuring new leadership at the council can keep the partnerships and investor confidence that have underpinned recent progress.
Further announcements are expected from Stockport Council about interim arrangements and the long-term replacement process in the coming weeks.
