The major developments transforming Tameside

Tameside Council has announced a bold vision to foster inclusive growth, writes Nicola Elsworth of Tameside Council.

The council has ambitions to grow and regenerate the borough to drive economic growth by integrating vibrant residential spaces, sustainable green areas, and high-quality public realm with independent retail, cutting-edge advanced manufacturing, and digital and creative space.,

By investing in new homes, infrastructure, and commercial space and through diversifying the business, residential, retail, and cultural offer Tameside Council will create vibrant places for its current and future residents. The authority hopes to strengthen local ties, enhance quality of life, and drive inclusive prosperity – with a resolute team in place and a drive for growth.

Here are some of the developments changing the face of the borough:

Ashton Mayoral Development Zone

Established in 2023, the AMDZ aims to unlock economic growth in the borough across three sites: Ashton Moss, St Petersfield, and Ashton town centre. The overarching vision is to create a dynamic ecosystem that attracts talent and fosters innovation, particularly in sectors like advanced materials, manufacturing, digital, creative media, and clean growth.

The zone aims to deliver approximately 3,000 new high-quality jobs, 1,500 mixed-tenure homes, and 1.6m sq ftof employment space.

Ashton Moss

This strategic employment site, spanning about 170 acres  is poised to become an innovation park. The development focuses on advanced materials and manufacturing, aiming to provide higher-paid, skilled jobs for residents. Ashton Moss is the largest employment opportunity site within Tameside and one of the largest in GM, with the potential for up to 1.6m sq ft of commercial floorspace.

St Petersfield

Located in the western part of Ashton town centre, St Petersfield will become a mixed-use residential and modern business district. The area will feature accessible, green spaces designed to high sustainability standards, with nine identified development opportunities. Its public realm will be enlivened by a mix of uses, including residential, creative studios, cafés, and communal spaces that will bring energy and activity throughout the day.

Ashton town centre

Ashton town centre is set for revitalisation to become a redesigned hub for living, culture, employment, and services. Plans include transformational work on Ashton’s Market Square, pictured below, as well as walking, cycling, and public realm improvements and the start of restoration works on Ashton Town Hall. Modern homes will be delivered to  diversify the town centre and unlock its full potential.

Ashton town centre is set to change, with plans for the Market Square. Credit: Tameside Council

Stalybridge West

The Stalybridge West area has been identified as an opportunity to create a vibrant town centre residential community in a highly sustainable location close to Stalybridge Railway Station.

The vision for Stalybridge West is to create a lively urban quarter in the town. 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 andset within a high-quality environment. A new destination will be created around the central residential hub   featuring local jobs, amenities, public spaces, access to leisure, the river and canal towpaths, and town centre cultural activity.

The council has secured £19.9m grant funding from the UK Capital Regeneration Projects programme for Stalybridge. Of this, £11.2m is specifically allocated to support enabling infrastructure works through the provision of a new multi-storey car park and a pedestrian footbridge.

The council will shortly be seeking a partner to progress new residential led development on the Castle Street, Caroline Street, and Bridge Street council-owned sites at Stalybridge West. This will be supported by further improvements to town centre. Together the town centre regeneration projects for Stalybridge 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.

Godley Green Garden Village plans involve a new mixed-use village centre. Credit: Tameside Council

Godley Green Garden Village

Godley Green Garden Village will deliver thousands of new homes, while creating a sustainable and well-connected community. Tameside Council has been granted outline planning approval for Godley Green to unlock up to 2,150 new homes and is working in partnership with the exciting new master developer entity, MADE Partnership.

Involving existing communities and stakeholders in the development of Godley Green has been at the forefront of its development. The vision will use existing infrastructure to grow residential neighbourhoods, create a new mixed-use village centre to strengthen community ties, and provide a hub that favours its residents.

• Nicola Elsworth is strategic growth programme director at Tameside Council