City Build appointed for £10m Walkden works
The local contractor has been retained for phase two of the regeneration project as it nears completion of the initial refurbishment package.
With 33,000 sq ft of revamped space almost ready to hand over, City Build has been appointed by Derwent Estates, acting on behalf of the Albert Gubay Charitable Foundation, to deliver a £10m facade at Walkden Town Centre.
The £10m phase two, due to commence in August, will see 180,000 sq ft of the shopping complex knocked down, a new façade erected, and an additional 49,000 sq ft of refurbed space delivered.
The demolition work will pave the way for the creation of a new area of public realm in the heart of Walkden as well as development parcels. The work is expected to take 16 months.
“We are delighted to be moving forward with the next phase of the Walkden Town Centre redevelopment,” said Scott Hall, asset manager at Derwent Estates.
“City Build did an outstanding job during the first phase of works, and this appointment reflects both the quality of the delivery as well as their deep-rooted connection to the local area.
“This is a key project for Walkden, and we remain fully committed to investing in its long-term growth and transformation. We’re excited to continue working with City Build to bring the next chapter of this important regeneration to life.”
Martin Berry, managing director of City Build, added: “As a Walkden-based business, we’re proud to continue our partnership with Derwent Estates and play a key role in revitalising our local town centre.
“Phase Two is an exciting step forward for the community, and we’re committed to delivering high- quality results that support long-term regeneration.”
RGP is the architect, Savills is the planner, Artal is project managing the redevelopment, and TSA Riley is the cost consultant.
This is brilliant news! Walkden is going from strength to strength.
By Geraldine
Why what was the first stage
By Anonymous
Much needed redevelopment can only improve town centre .
By Ian
What a waste of time and money. Shops don’t want to come to walkden, they can’t put people in now. Walkden is a ghost town.
By Anonymous
First stage? What first stage? Do you mean the bit where they closed a thriving market and replaced it with empty units, or did I miss something? And whose bright idea was it to put a supermarket on the first floor? Wouldn’t all the money be better spent feeding hungry children and providing decent homes for the homeless?
By Clytemnestra
If phase one was the redevelopment of the Ellesmere centre, then I’ll pass.
Sky rents have made it a ghost town.
By Anonymous
Knock down Tesco instead, the all those employ, and never used shops might stand a chance. And sort out that car park. 5 lanes of traffic meeting at the main entrance, where you have to drive to, the away from, then walk back to, then do it all in reverse. How such a design got onto the drawing board, never mind off it, beggars belief.
By Tony Mitchell
That’s great news!
By Mary Rodrigues
Great news! But there is a very big poblem between the large Tesco Extra, which sell everything, believe, everything and the Ellesmere centre,which is now like a gost, because no one could keep their small shop there. People would go to Tesco and buy whatever they want to, and the small shops wouldn’t sell nothing basically. I think you should think about it.
By Anonymous
Waste of money! Have you seen all the empty shops already in Ellesmere Centre? Why would this be any different?
By Anonymous
What a waste of money – had one lift and descending escalator for over 12 months ghost town
By Anonymous
I cant see how all the buildings on the plan between Aldi and tesco entrance and beyond fit in the space upto the garden area – it doesnt seem that big a space to work on!
By LB
What about little hulton when are they going to spend some money there becouse little hulton centre is an absolute disgrace
By Anonymous
Spending £10m is good news but i would spend time and money trying to get Tennants in to all the empty shops and create some revenue
By Lee
Presumably they are knocking down the only part which has any architectural character or any friendly feeling and replacing it with dull, dull, dull.
By Anonymous
What happened to the cinema that was supposed to have been built
By Anonymous
Are they going to fix that leaking roof in the ellesmere
By Anonymous
Developers ripped the heart out of Walkden years ago ,you will never get that back
By Bill Rothwell
I think this redevelopment is great, it is much needed. As for those saying Walkden is a ghost town in not sure I agree the only dead area is what is being redeveloped. The other shops are always busy when I’ve been in. Hoping there may be a bar or 2 added in this area as Walden is missing those, most of the bars in the area have that ‘local’ pub vibe. Would be great to have some where you could dress up and have a little dance.
By Anonymous
A shopping centre will never be a town centre! Baffling how it even has that name. Great to see investment going into Walkden though.
By Anonymous
So basically more coffee shops, only thing that does well and can afford the rent
By Anonymous
City Build are an excellent local company our paths have crossed many times and I’m sure they will do an excellent job
By Ron
Pity it couldn’t have been shared between Walkden and Swinton.. at least Walkden is always busy .. Swinton is awful, shameful and embarrassing !!!
By Anonymous
About time might be more that you see about Walkden it needs ut
By Alison lawton
From what’s being done those shops being fitted don’t look very disabled friendly as they all look like push/pull doors which will mean disabled people will struggle getting in and out. Also over the last 30 years it’s been going down hill and where’s the cinema we were promised last time they redid the centre, they can’t fill the space they have now what makes them think they can get more shops etc to come to Walkden
By Bex
Phase 1 ??
What have they done? Can’t see anything new.
What a waste of money.
By alice
What happened to building a cinema
By Anonymous
Walkden does need more shops inside the Ellesmere Centre, also more eateries, more clothes shops too, let’s hope this new work will attract more local businesses.
By Anonymous
One white elphant replacing another. Will only ever be £1 shops, coffee shops and charity shops. The local businesses that were there before the first redevelopment have been killed by sky high rent.
By Anonymous
Despite my misgivings, this can only be a positive. The area is struggling beyond belief right now, so public realm improvements will only benefit and soften the area from a townscape point of view. I only hope that they will in time improve the main junction also. I drive through often, and look at all the amazing Co-Operative Buildings on each corner and am saddened by the state they are in. if that main junction were returned to a roundabout maybe, with the central monument returned perhaps – as it once was (now outside the church) – plant a few trees etc. the whole centre could easily be transformed. Just imagine wide pavements on all four corners, traffic calmed and each co-op building housing a nice restaurant / bar or two instead of cheap barbers and HMO’s? It’s down at heel at present, but it could come back quite easily with a bit of thought. Build it and they will come!
By Ben
This is my issue with people – so negative! Saying Walkden is a rundown town couldn’t be far from the truth, and the introduction of a boulevard style building complex will only be a positive. It may worsen traffic I don’t know, but at least effort is being made to improve the town which is always welcomed! The empty shops all around the shopping centre is what needs immediate attention. Sky high prices makes no business sense. I’ve seen shops empty since 2012 – 14 years of no occupancy and no revenue doesn’t add up, so hopefully the extension will improve things. Walkden has been a nice place to live and it will only be nicer with stuff like this…we just all need to learn to see the brighter side of life sometimes
By Jon