Long-awaited Hattersley retail moves forward
Maple Grove Developments and Onward Homes have submitted proposals for a 57,000 sq ft mixed-use development anchored by an Aldi store off Stockport Road, a scheme that has been in the pipeline for more than a decade.
As well as Aldi, the Hattersley development – to be constructed on a 5.5-acre site off Stockport Road and Ashworth Lane – features a Costa Coffee café/drive-thru, 16 electric vehicle charging points, and up to eight employment units.
“The scheme has had to respond to recent economic and social trends, with a scaling back of the retail floorspace and the introduction of trade counter and employment space,” said Andrew Dewhurst, development director at Maple Grove.
“The proposed plans include a new electric vehicle charging hub and this, along with the other amenities available, will help serve local residents and those passing by.
“Subject to our application securing approval, we hope to make a start on site next spring.”
Tameside Council has long harboured ambitions of delivering a district centre for Hattersley residents and in early 2015, plans for a 75,000 sq ft retail scheme were approved.
The council appointed Maple Grove to bring forward the district centre in 2016. The company, part of Eric Wright Group, was granted full consent for the project in 2018, which by that point had Lidl on the hook as anchor tenant.
Construction of the development did not materialise in the following years and the site, vacant for 14 years in total, has remained undeveloped.
Maple Grove and Onward have now reworked the scheme to respond to market changes –swapping out some retail space for employment units – and secured a new anchor tenant in Aldi.
Sandy Livingstone, executive director of property at Onward Homes, said: “The arrival of new retail and business premises, as well as the resulting employment opportunities, will offer greater choice and more opportunities for people living and working in Hattersley.
“We are pleased to be supporting the redevelopment of this dormant site, delivering on another one of our commitments to the local community as part of our 20-year regeneration of the local area.”
The project team includes architect The Harris Partnership, planner Avison Young, and Bradys Chartered Surveyors.
Previously proposed retail space has been replaced with trade counter units. Credit: via Inform Comms
Ah suburbia – with its sea of grey tarmac, hideous buildings, skies filled with pylons, and not an ounce of greenery anywhere. Perfect place to raise a family.
By Anonymous
With more than a quarter of households in Tameside not having regular access to a car or van, and presumably a (far?) higher proportion of households in Hattersley than the borough-wide average, given that Hattersley is consistently in the worst 10% of areas nationally in the indices of multiple deprivation, it’s a shame to see images of new development (supposedly providing Hattersley with a district centre) where everything is utterly dominated by space for cars. Is this a district centre or is it a drive-to destination for people in surrounding communities?
By Gethin
About time we had an alternative to rip off Tesco, the land has been derelict there for ages and maybe a few more jobs. Get building i say.
By Lopez king of the junglists
I can’t get over how hapless Tameside is – this whole area would be perfect for gentle density, street based urbanism, with retail and leisure underneath housing. Far more dwellings could also be built here, contributing to the housing shortfall. The work of Create Streets is a good guide of how things Shan be done.
By Rye&Eggs
Yep a huge missed opportunity. The housing association rightly received a lot of flak when these dismal plans were first submitted. They’ve had 7 years to review and improve upon them.
By House mart
They been saying this for 11yrs believe it when I see it.
By Anonymous
Money would be better spend making the social housing more habitable, they are in a state of disrepair , damp , leaky pipes poor bathrooms and kitchens, horrible communal areas in the flats , nothing has been done to improve these in years
By Julie Hartigan