Stalybridge ramps up £80m regeneration proposals
Tameside Council is to resubmit a bid for a share of the government’s £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund to drive forward the redevelopment of eight brownfield sites in the town centre.
The council has identified five plots under its ownership and three owned by the Greater Manchester Pension Fund that could be redeveloped into a mixed-use scheme with an estimated development value of between £80m and £100m.
The sites, which total just under seven acres, could accommodate 434 homes and generate an annual spend of £8m, according to the council.
In addition, Tameside has identified the potential for a mulitstorey car park with 300 spaces to be developed.
The sites in question are:
- Sites one, two and three – owned by GMPF and located around Harrop Street
- Sites four – a large vacant parcel of council-owned land across the River Tame from the GMPF-owned sites
- Site five – a small vacant council-owned site on Caroline Street/Bridge Street at the wharf head of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal
- Site six – a surface car park owned by the council that fronts Castle Street and the Huddersfield Canal
- Site seven – a council-owned surface car park that fronts Castle Street, Back Melbourne Street and the Huddersfield Canal
- Site eight – another council-owned car park off Waterloo Road and King Street.
Having identified the sites, Tameside will undertake soft market testing to gauge appetite for the opportunity among developers.
The council may also attempt to obtain outline planning consent for the scheme in a bid to make the potential project more attractive to developers, according to a council report.
Tameside’s ultimate aim is to appoint a strategic partner to deliver the Stalybridge masterplan.
“The indicative proposals show the opportunity to utilise the subject sites as regeneration catalysts, enhancing provision of residential and commercial accommodation…[that is] attractive to existing and new people to complement existing uses and users,” the report said.
To support the masterplan, Tameside is seeking funding from the government’s Levelling Up Fund.
Tameside submitted a bid for levelling up cash to assist with the redevelopment of Stalybridge last year but was unsuccessful. The council now plans to resubmit that bid with more detail about the project’s delivery.
“Feedback suggested that had the project been worked up further in delivery terms the submission would have secured a higher scoring,” the council report said.
In addition, Tameside is also preparing to submit a Levelling Up Fund bid for Denton, where it plans to improve the town’s public realm.
Fantastic news. This would be transformative for Stalybridge, along with the redevelopment of the former Police Station and possible new transport interchange.
By Anonymous
Really happy for Stalybridge, I honestly feel this suburb has huge potential. Perfectly located between Ashton and the Pennines, with lovely towns like Uppermill nearby. Anyone know what the London Underground roundal in blue at the bottom/left is supposted to mean?
By Joe
Only took them 20 years to work this out
By Tannoy
I agree with Joe.
Stalybridge is one of the biggest potentials of the north IMO.
By Anonymous
Stalybridge has always been a backwater which needs to get into the 21st century. Stop messing and get on with the job.
By Geoff
Looks like all the car parks are going. How much will be affordable housing or coucil rented properties? Not many, I don’t think. If any.
By Bridgelad
I have lived in stalybridge for over fifty years, I have seen the town Hall half demolished, the police station built and half demolished, the Palace theatre turned into a night club, the swimming baths once given to the people of stalybridge, sold to tesco. Tameside need to make stalybridge more like upermill than a concrete jungle
By Mr s
Now we just need to reduce the crime rates in the area and we can enjoy this brilliant town. Neighbouring Dukinfield is turning into a hotbed of more serious crime recently so it isn’t a source of pride. I agree with the comment that the town needs to be more like Uppermill. Still full of independent businesses and full of charm. Just hopefully better thought to the roads and walkways.
By Hopeful
How has Dukinfield become a hotbed for crime, do you live there?
By Anonymous
Stalybridge is one of my all time top towns to go, so hopeful for these plans. My favourite place is that lovely church in the centre, try it one week, it may change your life, Holy Trinity Stalybridge.
By Paul Gascoigne
I have lived in stalybridge for over 65 years,I’ve seen the changes from a town where you could buy anything to a town where all there is ,is charity shops and fast food places,the council won’t build housing for people who can’t afford massive deposits from private landlords,or worse still can’t afford to buy,these are the generation the council should be putting their energy into and taxpayers money,I would wager that most of the properties that are going to be built are for sale,not for the kids who haven’t got the cash to fund deposits
By Margaret
Fantastic news but please don’t use any of Stalybridges green belt’s. Thank you
By John 10
Yes use the green belt. The town’s getting a £9BN electrified rail link to Leeds.
By Rich X