Plans in for £11m Ashton Market Square overhaul
A project team comprising, among others, Buttress, Planit-IE, and Civic Engineers, has lodged proposals to reinvent a chunk of the town centre.
Tameside Council wants to see Ashton-under-Lyne’s market square transformed into a modern facility that is the “beating heart of the town” using £11m from the government’s Levelling Up Fund.
A spokesperson for Tameside Council said: “The changes to the Market Square and public realm using Levelling Up monies are essential to unlock Ashton’s potential for regeneration.
“We’ve taken everyone’s feedback into account to help shape the plans to turn the town centre into a place that meets the needs of current and future generations and help make it a place to be proud of, where people want to live, work and spend time.”
At present, Market Square and the outdoor market is currently made up of 104 fixed market stalls and eight kiosk facilities and runs seven days a week.
The council estimates the average occupancy of the outdoor market through the week – excluding busier Tuesdays and Sundays – tends to be between 10-15%.
Standing out in the proposals for the redevelopment of Ashton Market Square is the introduction of a large canopy. The canopy could include a space designated for events, as well as the capacity for eight kiosks, stalls, and seating.
As well as Market Square, other areas of public realm including Wellington Road Gardens, Fletcher Square, and Warrington Street are all in line for upgrades under the proposals.
Lindsay Humblet, director at Planit-IE and lead designer on the project, said: “The way the new elevations have been designed frame both the clock tower of the Market Hall and also Town Hall’s beautiful facade.
“This was a crucial requirement, we want the people arriving at the square to see these incredible views and some of Ashton’s greatest assets.
I have been working with Tameside’s team for a number of years, it is a beautiful town and we believe the proposals for the Market Quarter will become a catalyst for further regeneration.”
Paul Morris, director at Civic Engineers, said: “The Market Square and new canopy structure will be transformational for Ashton.
“As well as creating a fantastic new focal point for the town, the introduction of nature-based SuDS solutions including raingardens and tree pits will provide climate resilience, managing surface water and protecting against flooding whilst increasing biodiversity within the landscape.”
Kimberley Corrall, associate at Buttress Associate, said: “The regeneration of the market area presents an exciting opportunity for Ashton Town Centre as a new modern market town offering space for different types of events.
“Our approach has been centred around creating a bespoke canopy and kiosks that will be flexible, enabling them to have many uses from day to night – from large-scale events to stalls and kiosks that will be attractive to local start-ups and small-medium sized businesses. As well as enhancing
the area, these will encourage town centre footfall.”
LK Group is the project manager for the scheme.
To learn more about the proposals, search for application reference number 23/00561/FUL on Tameside Council’s planning portal.
From someone who grew up in Tameside all his life the council really haven’t got a clue. This looks nothing more than an expensive roof on the current market stalls. The recent more long term proposals from Rochdale and Oldham look much better. Trafford’s plans for Stretford look exciting. This I’m afraid does not and will do nothing for Ashton. A greater focus on the other towns in Tameside is needed. Easier to work with one of the smaller towns first as the enhancements would be noticed more and then hopefully have a knock on effect in time.
By Tomo
Looks fantastic — you always get the doom mongers!
By Anonymous
Another waste of money. It’s ironic its supposedly from the ‘levelling up fund’. There’s no levelling up in Tameside unless they’ve spending it on ashton or hyde. I despair.
By Jude
Every time Ashton council has changed the market…they’ve got it wrong, and who foots the bill we do.As a local who’s been using the market since the 80s I would love to see it thrive again.So many businesses surrounding the market having to shut down It’s just not a nice place to shop …
By mac lovejoy
Tameside mess up the old ashton market so why not mess it up again. Just bring back the old market place, take a look at bury market and learn from bury Council.
By Anonymous
How long have they had these funds and only just come up with this? When one in five vote,however you reap what you so
By Stephen
Ashton Market has been redeveloped 3 times in recent history and millions have been wasted! Each redevelopment kills trade off a little bit more. The so called ‘events space’ was supposed to happen the last time they squandered tax payers money on it and it failed again.
I think the time of outdoor markets has passed. Money would be much better spent on urban greening the space and keeping Ashton pool open!
By Anonymous
Wouldn’t we be better spending the money saving Ashton baths for the children
By Anonymous
When are councils going to drag themselves into the 21century and realise markets do not work anymore. The trend is now for Artisan markets where traders can sell their own products.
The supermarkets and internet has finished markets off. Also, all councils refusing to realise market trading is not the profitable business it once was but traders still get charged hefty fees to stand for many hours doing very little business.
It’s not that long ago that millions were spent on Ashton market it didn’t work then and It won’t work now. Another complete waste of money.
By Sue Lane
What a mess this council has made of a once thriving market. This is like putting lipstick on a pig.
By Michael C.
The ‘beating heart ‘ of all the Tameside’s Town centres has been killed: high business rents, parking charges, development of satellite retail parks, and supermarkets all playing their part. Very sadly there isn’t anything to tempt majority of public anymore and I honestly think too much damage has been done because of this being allowed to happen by the people making decisions. I remember Ashton being a bustling cracking town. Shopping shoulder to shoulder on Ashton Market; with many long established business’s all over the town.
Use the money to address all these things, as many as you can. An canopy just doesn’t cut it! Don’t waste money on a ‘sticking plaster’. Address the roots of the issues, not just for Ashton but throughout Tameside!
By Anonymous
First of all let’s look past the new market plans and get all the fly tipping sorted and re open the swimming pool.
By Anonymous
More money to be wasted on the outdoor market market which should have been left alone in the first place.All the decent stallholders were lost during the creation of the eyesore that it is.Why do people keep voting for this shambles of a Labour Council?? Ashton under Lyne has some of the best transport links, schools and colleges in the North West but no encouragement for businesses to invest.We had a brilliant theatre..What the hell happened ?Ashton under Lyne town centre has been awarded levelling up money…where is it ?? Lots of high flying promises but nothing seems to materialise.
By Ann English
100 stalls are filled on a Sunday market and over 1500 people pass through on a SUNDAY some for a bargain and a lot for the banter and some for comradeship . This roof over a very busy market will kill the town ( and I think some of you know it ) it will harbour the wrong type of people . Why don’t some of you from the Council planning take stroll into the market 9am on a Sunday ,take a good look at the VERY busy Sunday market to visualise just what you are killing . Just bring back the old market place, I know people who travel all the way to bury market ( even from Stretford ) because they got it right look and learn from bury Council.
By Frank Linney
No amount of improvement, however big or small will change things in that once thriving small market town. Tameside Council ripped the heart out of Ashton when they altered the market many years ago, and consequently people chose to travel to Bury which is a bigger town with much better facilities and Ashton will never compete.
By Nathan Dodd