Acceptance of funding brings start of master planning process for Droylsden

Plans to start to shape a masterplan for Droylsden will move ahead following acceptance of £100,000 in Homes England and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) funding.

The revenue funding secured by the GMCA awarded for Tameside is an allocation from the Homes England Revenue Department Expenditure Limit (RDEL) funding which will enable the start of plans to shape Droylsden into a more vibrant town centre.

The external funding will support activity and will enable the start of plans to shape Droylsden into a more vibrant town centre. The creation of a masterplan will help join Droylsden Shopping Centre and the Greenside Lane Retail Park currently owned by New Era which are intrinsically linked with the Council owned Concorde Suite building. As well as a focus on movement and public realm improvements, the masterplan will look to help facilitate a long-term sustainable solution for various town centre sites by maximising the investment made in recent years on the GM Pension Fund Head Office, Droylsden Library, Metrolink, Medlock Active, the former Jam Works site, and Fairfield Road site, and Droylsden Marina.

The masterplan will outline short, medium and long-term goals in a programme for the wider town centre which will span over up to 20 years enabling the Council to seek further investment and funding options to be able to implement the plan and then deliver the vision for a sustainable future for Droylsden.

Councillor Vimal Choksi, Executive Member (Towns and Communities) said: “The funding is great news, and it alleviates pressures on the Council budget while allowing us to move forward with much needed plans to build vibrancy and future proof Droylsden alongside our plans for Ashton, Hyde and Stalybridge. The plans will be long term and will involve working with partners and attracting additional investment and funding to put them in motion but mapping out the vision for the future is the first step.”

“The Council will be looking to appoint a partner on the masterplan over the few weeks and get work underway to meet the spend deadline of March 2024.”

To find out the latest on the regeneration plans for our town centres, go to www.tameside.gov.uk.