Muse, Bury gear up for £100m+ Prestwich regen
Chroma Consulting is set to begin ground investigations at the Fairfax Road car park on Monday – a move that will help the joint venture hit the ground running if the larger project can secure planning permission this summer.
Prestwich Regeneration, the name of the Muse and Bury Council collaboration, had submitted a hybrid application to redevelop the Longfield Centre in the town. This includes transforming the existing Fairfax Road car park into a 301-space travel hub with electric vehicle charging points, parcel lockers, and cycle storage.
The ground investigation is set to take place over the course of four weeks, during which those looking to park in Prestwich will have to use the Longfield Centre car park instead of the Fairfax Road one.
Muse director of project management Stuart Rogers spoke about why the developer was starting ground investigation now, rather than once planning permission has been secured. Muse is optimistic that it will gain that permission over the summer.
Rogers said: “The work will help us understand the quality of the ground, essential before any development can start on site.
“Doing so now will help us hit the ground running with the delivery of the travel hub once we have a positive planning decision.
“We’re excited to now be making tangible progress on the regeneration of Prestwich Village, following years of consultation, detailed design and preparation,” he continued.
In addition to the travel hub, the hybrid application calls for the erection of a 30,000 sq ft community hub with space for a library and health centre, a 6,500 sq ft market hall, and a slew of commercial, retail, and leisure spaces. The outline part of the project is for up to 210 homes, some of the commercial offerings, and part of the public realm.
Jon Matthews Architects and Planit are working on the designs, with Asteer Planning helping usher the scheme through the planning process. Civic Engineers is also on the project team.
You can learn more about the application by searching reference number 70449 on Bury Council’s planning portal.
Nice looking scheme
By Euro Viewer
In what world is a developer allowed to gridlock the town for some kind of gunboat diplomacy event before getting planning permission? This is the most contentious part of the scheme, the withdrawal of the parking facility that has so far underpinned the appeal of Prestwich. I don’t see the residents having any agency here, but will be interesting to see how they find this move.
By Anonymous
@ Anonymous. What nonsense you spout. Gunboat diplomacy? Parking being the main appeal of Prestwich? The main appeal of Prestwich is its sense of community, its excellent bars, restaurants, parks and schools not to mention its proximity to the city centre and transport links.
By Prestwich Resident
Looking forward to it immensely
By Anonymous
Anon- how is there a Withdrawal of a parking facility? Literally a new car park being proposed on the site of an existing one. If you think parking is the appeal of prestwich, then that’s just weird!
By Chancer
Prestwich Centre is pretty grim, and has no correlation with the value of homes in the area. Of course Bury council has pillaged its resources for years, and put very little back. This is a start. The main road looks better now with some half decent bars and shops, after years of decline.
By Elephant