Work starts on Eccles town centre demolitions
Salford contractor Connell Brothers has begun a programme that includes bringing down a market hall, car park and part of the shopping centre, paving the way for redevelopment.
The city council bought Eccles Shopping Centre from Columbia Threadneedle for around £4m to give itself control over the town centre’s future. The project has around £5.4m in Levelling Up Fund support.
Connell Brothers’ brief is to demolish the northern part of the shopping centre in phase one of the Eccles town centre redevelopment, with the southern part to follow in phase two. Charles House, which the council has now acquired, will also come down in that phase.
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Cllr Mike McCusker, lead member for planning, transport and sustainable development at Salford City Council and an Eccles ward councillor, said: “Through our purchase of the shopping centre, we were able to put the future of the town centre in the hands of the council and the community.
“It has enabled us to begin this important and long-overdue programme of work, to deliver the vision we have developed with the community.”
Cllr McCusker said that implementing that vision “starts with this demolition”. He continued: “Whilst we work on the town centre of the future, today’s town centre remains open for business. I want to stress that this demolition work only affects certain parts of the town centre. The shops and businesses on Church Street are still open for business and unaffected by this work.
“The demolition work will take some time, but there are exciting times ahead for Eccles as we work to bring this vision to life. We’re still extremely keen to get the views of local residents on their needs for a new town centre and welcome all feedback to ensure we develop this truly shared vision and create an Eccles that’s fit for the future.”
Public consultation saw 600 residents share their views and aspirations for drastic improvements to the town centre. Architect SimpsonHaugh and development manager Identity Consult have advised the council to shape the broad vision.
At this stage, Salford’s plan is that once demolition work is completed, it will “present a blank canvas to potential development partners,” triggering a selection process.
The phase one demolition work is expected to be completed before the end of the year.
There is a phased plan in place. Credit: Salford CC
Think it will be a ‘blank canvas’ for a while…..
By Jennifer Eccles
Eccles needs shops not more tower blocks it’s a ghost town and has been ruined,
By Emma wallwork
What was once a thriving shopping centre has fallen into the hands of the council, only time will tell whether they will bring it back to life or not. Eccles, Walkden, Swinton, Salford shopping centres all need major overhauls with proper long term investment. I doubt Salford Labour Council will have the fight and forethought for this?
By Ian Thomson
Please look back at its past we have lost so much in eccles it’s lost its roots we need more restoration on what we have and build shops like their old looking out the heritage back.
By Alex m
I believe this is a fantastic vision but the cost of living in Eccles will drastically be elevated including the cost to acquire shops in Eccles. Nevertheless, wait and see.
By Anonymous
What really killed Eccles is when they ploughed a motorway through the middle of it. Unbelievably short-sighted decision from idiotic highways planners who were given far too much money and free-reign to do as they pleased. See also: ploughing another motorway through Worsley.
Get rid of the smelly motorway or utilise its below-ground nature to cap it off with a concrete deck and put a park on top. That’ll properly reconnect Eccles with Monton and Ellesmere Park. Better yet: get rid of the motorway altogether (sod the suburbanites) and re-lay four tracks of railway between Eccles and Manchester to enable more capacity for Eccles station (giving it more than 1 train per hour!)
By Anonymous
Emma the shops have closed because they don’t have enough trade. The only way to get more trade is by more people shopping. You get more people shopping by more people living there. Really hope this makes sense.
By Give me strength
Eccles has great potential. The ripple effect from Monton Green would start if they sorted out that shopping centre.
By Elephant