Major Regeneration Of Stalybridge Town Centre Is Approved
The town of Stalybridge in Tameside, Greater Manchester, has been awarded almost £20m from the government’s levelling up fund. BBC News reports that ambitious regeneration plans for the town centre will now go ahead after the external funding was awarded by the UK Capital Regeneration Projects scheme.
The scheme is administered by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. In line with many other town councils up and down the country, Tameside Council plans to attract more residents to the town centre with new housing schemes and amenities.
This reflects the changing use of urban spaces, as traditional retail stores are less in demand and quality housing remains in very short supply. The pandemic accelerated the move towards online shopping, prompting the closure of many familiar brand names plus countless smaller independent stores.
In the short term, Tameside Council plans to make repairs to the Civic Hall roof and restore the Astley Cheetham Art Gallery and Library. In the medium term, there will be further plans to create new markets with food and drink outlets, and cultural spaces for music, comedy, theatre and art exhibitions and events.
A new pedestrian and cyclist bridge has been proposed to cross the River Tame, improving connectivity to the town centre near Caroline Street. There will also be a new multi-level carpark constructed near Waterloo Street, and further public realm improvements around the town centre and the bus station.
In the longer term, the town’s development framework includes plans for 1,000 new homes to be created in Stalybridge to cater for local demand for housing.
The framework documentation states: “There are a range of opportunities within Stalybridge to respond directly to the aspirations identified for the town centre that also addresses challenges facing Stalybridge.”
“The framework therefore seeks to co-ordinate delivery of the Stalybridge Regeneration Programme and assist in the implementation of a longer-term strategy which will help address housing needs whilst reinvigorating the town centre and enabling it to contribute more fully to the local economy and to broader regeneration aims.”
It continues: “The overarching vision of the framework is ‘to deliver a thriving place throughout the day and evening optimising Stalybridge’s excellent connectivity, waterfront, heritage, culture and passion to provide a hub for living, culture, employment and services supporting a sustainable retail sector”.
Stalybridge was one of the first towns to develop as a centre for textile manufacturing in the latter half of the 18th century. It continued to thrive throughout the 19th century with over 16 cotton mills and textile factories. The Manchester and Leeds railway was connected to the town in 1846, helping to fuel its expansion.
During the early 20th century as the textile industry fell into decline, unemployment rose sharply, prompting a fall in population as people left to seek work elsewhere. Some new industry was introduced in the 1950s, and this prompted the development of new housing estates on the outskirts of the town.
As the needs of the population and the use of the town centre has changed, Tameside Council now plans to move with the times and plan for the future.
The framework statement continues: “The period to March 2026 will see the delivery of significant regeneration with a number of physical projects delivered in Stalybridge town centre. The council will continue to work with partners to attract further external funding and investment to complement this work.”
“The successful delivery of these important capital projects as part of the Stalybridge Regeneration Programme will contribute to the achievement of the vision and primary objective to secure the successful regeneration of the town centre and the surrounding area.”
Last year, Stalybridge Railway Station was upgraded to prepare the lines for electrification. The upgrade included the installation of over 2km of new track, 23 new signals, and improvements to 13 crossovers. It is the first major upgrade of the track since the First World War, according to BBC News.
The work is part of the wider Transpennine Route Upgrade, which promises to improve train services between Manchester, Huddersfield, Leeds, and York. This multi-billion pound scheme aims to increase the frequency and reliability of trains on the Transpennine route.
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