Town hall bosses sign off on redevelopment of western Stalybridge

The regeneration of Stalybridge is set to continue after town hall bosses approved the latest development plan for the area.

The western side of the town centre near the train station has been targeted for redevelopment after the area became the focus of the Greater Manchester Mayor’s Town Centre Challenge in 2018.

New housing; developing unused council buildings; improving road, cycling and pedestrian routes into the town centre; improving the public realm; and better jobs and services for the area are all touted in the delivery strategy.

At the most recent cabinet meeting in the Tameside One building in Ashton, council bosses formally declared council-owned sites in the area as surplus to requirements and gave the sign off for planning and procurement works to start.

A total of £11.2m is allocated for infrastructure works within Stalybridge West. This comes from the £19.907m the council was granted as part of the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) capital grant which can only be spent on the programme at Stalybridge.

This money is time-limited, with full utilisation required by March 31, 2026. Cllr Jack Naylor, executive member for inclusive growth, business and employment, declared this sign off as “an exciting time for Stalybridge” and told members how this is another step in the right direction for rejuvenating the picturesque town. 

Cllr Naylor’s sentiment was enthusiastically echoed by fellow cabinet members in attendance on April 24. 

A report on the plan, explaining the vision for Stalybridge West, read: “A lively urban quarter in the town. When developed, the plans provide for a mix of housing types and tenures, from one bed apartments to larger family homes, available in secure environments surrounded by new and refurbished commercial and public buildings enhancing local services, set within a high-quality public realm environment. 

“A new destination created with local jobs, amenities, public spaces, access to leisure, the river and canal towpaths, town centre cultural activity, where homes will be central to the hub of activity. The existing and future town centre regeneration projects and programme will continue to run alongside the Stalybridge West redevelopment sites and together they will spearhead a new chapter for this Town on the edge of the Peak District with easy access to the major cities of Manchester and Leeds.”

At the meeting, the cabinet also approved the sign-off for a six-week consultation period on the draft masterplan for Droylsden town centre. This consultation would help shape the vision for the future of the town.

Town hall bosses also approved the list of Civic events for 2024 as well as £75,000 from council reserves to fund the preparation of a Tameside Local Transport Strategy. This strategy will set out how the council will meet its ambitions over the next 15-20 years in relation to its transport network.