Salford, Muse seek views on Eccles regeneration

Having formed a partnership in July and won £2.75m from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority for town centre redevelopment in May, the council and placemaker are now inviting residents to help shape proposals.

Salford City Council and Muse want to hear from stakeholders, including businesses, as the partnership begins drawing up a masterplan for the town centre, which it hopes to finalise by May 2026.

The masterplan will aim to take advantage of Salford’s growth and the town’s position as a strategic gateway connecting MediaCity, Salford Quays, and Manchester city centre to Trafford, the Western Gateway, and the wider west of Salford.

Housing will be included in the masterplan to bring life and energy back into Eccles town centre and provide a boost to local businesses.

• View the consultation here.

Current proposals centre around four key locations:

St Mary’s Garden

The partnership is exploring how to sensitively improve the central garden that surrounds the grade one-listed St Mary’s Church. Changes would acknowledge its current use as a place of quiet reflection and seek to maintain that, while also strengthening the gardens as a peaceful, welcoming space.

Vicarage Gardens

A proposed housing development would establish the area as a revitalised gateway into Eccles, while movement across the town centre would be made safer by introducing traffic calming measures along Albert Street and improving connections from Monton.

Peel Street could return to a two-way street, which the partnership says would reduce the dominance of the ring road to create a more balanced transport environment for all.

Vicarage Grove

The public realm leading up to Eccles train station is also expected to get a makeover. Accessibility, safety, and active travel improvements would complement a greening effort, in a bid to make the approach more welcoming.

Church Street and Regent Street

The partnership notes that there is a large number of heritage buildings along these two main streets and hopes to take advantage of their potential to revitalise the town’s centre.

Enhancements to public spaces along both streets, improving the experience for people walking between the bus, tram, and train stations, and reimagining the area outside the library and town hall as a new civic square would help to create a safer, more people-focused environment that celebrates the town’s heritage.

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Provisional plans also indicate the allocation of plots for future development south of the town’s bus station could reconnect the heart of Eccles to the waterside of the Manchester Ship Canal.

The four-week consultation period is dotted with several in-person events on 23, 25, and 30 October, with chances to speak to the project team.

Cllr Mike McCusker, lead member for planning, transport, and sustainable development at Salford City Council, said: “Eccles is a town with a proud heritage and exciting potential.

“The masterplan, once developed with community voices at its heart, will create new homes and spaces that residents can enjoy and be proud of for decades to come.

“Whether you work or live in the town, I’d urge everyone with a stake in Eccles to attend one of the drop-in events or join the public webinar and share your views to help shape the future of the town centre.”

The feedback will build on the Eccles Vision set out after a round of conversations with local stakeholders in 2022.

Three themes comprise the Eccles Vision: the creation of a place to ‘eat, meet, and play’, redevelopment that is sensitive to both the environment and heritage, and maximising the use of the town’s transport assets.

Alex Vogel, senior development manager at Muse, said: “Muse is thrilled to be partnering with Salford City Council to deliver real, meaningful change for Eccles.

“We are at the very early stages of our plans and building on the work that has already been undertaken to develop the Eccles Vision and want to understand more about the specific wants and needs that the community would like to see brought forward.

“This initial community conversation led by the partnership is an important step in helping us deliver a town centre that reflects what local people want, while celebrating local businesses and enhancing the historic character of Eccles.”