Muse, Bury advance £100m Prestwich plans
The joint venture has appointed Jon Matthews Architects and Planit-IE to draw up proposals for the redevelopment of the Longfield Centre and will host a public consultation on the scheme early next year.
The consultation will run from late January, beginning with drop-in sessions with the project team on Sunday 29 at Prestwich Library, until Friday 17 March.
Residents and local stakeholders can get involved with the consultation by registering their interest at www.yourprestwich.com.
“We know that the local community is excited to get involved in shaping the future of Prestwich Village so it’s great to be able to set out our plans for the first community conversation early next year,” said Stuart Rogers, project director at Muse.
“This is a once in a generation opportunity to deliver a new beating heart for Prestwich that appeals to everyone, delivers significant local benefits through investment and jobs, and solidifies the village as one of the most sought-after places to live in the region.”
Muse Developments and Bury Council entered into a 10-year joint venture to deliver the £100m Prestwich scheme in October. The partnership aims to submit a planning application for the project next October.
The JV hope to have vacant possession of the shopping centre by November 2025 at the latest so that demolition can begin the following month.
The redevelopment of Longfield Shopping Centre will feature a community hub accommodating council services including library and adult learning.
This part of the project will be delivered as the first phase and will be funded by the council, according to the report.
Later phases of the development could include a market, retail space, apartments, townhouses, and a green travel hub with multistorey car park.
The regeneration scheme is made possible thanks to Bury Council’s purchase of the Longfield Shopping Centre from Hollins Murray Group in August 2021.
Muse had previously been involved in the project back in 2016 when HMG appointed the developer to draw up plans to revamp the seven-acre site.
Prestwich town centre and the Longfield SC are ripe for redevelopment. The high street already has some quality independent retail/F&B operators and the provision of a range of unit sizes of better specification/accessibility will only add to the popularity and aid neighbouring towns. I just hope whatever housing is considered to underpin the scheme that it has community/owner occupation in mind, and directed away from buy to let investors.
By Cyril
Prestwich has become popular, due to the innovativeness of local people and has precious little to do with Bury council, who can’t even keep the steps at the town hall free of litter. The small businesses in Prestwich are a testament to individual creativity,and these plans may improve the lay out of the ghastly Longfield suite and the tatty precinct around it, however, the future lies with small businesses and let us pray that when this does happen, the town does not becoming inundated with boring chain stores. Sale is a very good template for how a satellite of Manchester should be.
By Elephant
Pleased that the retail spaces look small to cater for smaller, independent, creative retailers rather than the usual huge retailers (which can be found anywhere)
I’d like to see a plan of the area because I can’t imagine how all of what’s in the artists impression will fit into the existing space
By Charlie
There should be a leisure centre with a swimming pool and a gym as a lot of people would use this and it promotes a healthy life style
By Anonymous