Ashton’s Market Square regeneration takes shape as new kiosks arrive on site

Excitement is building in Ashton-under-Lyne as the first of the new market kiosks have started to arrive on site, marking a major milestone in the town’s ambitious regeneration plans.

Produced by modular specialists WhiteCrate, the kiosks form a key part of the wider transformation of this key civic space – a flagship regeneration project led by Tameside Council, with architectural design by Buttress, landscape design by Planit, technical consultancy from LK Group, and delivery support from Casey Construction. The new high-quality space will provide a flexible community space for events, markets, and cultural activities. The kiosks will be home to high quality food and drink traders, local produce and some retail and will operate alongside the general market traders.

Over recent months, extensive work has been underway both on site and behind the scenes, but the arrival of these fully finished kiosk represents more visible signs of progress for residents and visitors. The kiosks are being installed are being installed from Monday 16^th November with support from HTF, local Tameside transport specialists, working alongside WhiteCrate to manage the complex logistics of positioning and installing the modular structures within the market square.

“It’s always exciting when a project moves from drawings and site prep to something tangible,” said Jon Flowerdew, Managing Director of WhiteCrate. “Our modular approach means the kiosks arrive fabricated off-site facility in the North West — reducing disruption, accelerating delivery, and providing an immediate visual impact on site. This type of regeneration is exactly where modular construction comes into its own.”

Councillor Andrew McLaren, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Growth, Housing and Homelessness, said:

“Seeing the new market kiosks arrive marks an exciting moment for Ashton. These units represent not just a physical transformation, but the beginning of a new chapter for the town centre. Made in the North West the design quality and craftsmanship are exceptional, and it’s great to see local partners like WhiteCrate, Buttress, and HTF contributing to such a positive regeneration story for Tameside. If you are a business interested in taking on one of the new kiosks, you can contact a member of the Markets Team on markets@tameside.gov.uk or 0161 342 3268.”

Buttress, the scheme’s architects, have played a central role in developing a design that carefully integrates the new kiosks into Ashton’s historic setting while creating a contemporary, vibrant marketplace.

Paul Hobson, senior architect at Buttress said: “We have enjoyed working hand in hand with Tameside Council and Whitecrate to create these unique kiosks and promote Ashton as a vibrant and aspirational destination marketplace. We hope the addition of the colourful kiosks can act as a catalyst for wider celebration of Ashton public realm and town centre improvement.”  Working closely with WhiteCrate, the design team ensured that modular construction could deliver the high design quality and flexibility demanded by a modern market environment.

WhiteCrate, specialists in modular construction and placemaking, have worked closely with the project team to deliver a bespoke design that balances heritage context with contemporary functionality. The Ashton Market kiosks stand as an exemplar for how modular techniques can be used creatively in town centre regeneration — offering both efficiency and high design quality.

The installation of the kiosks marks an important step forward in the project, signalling the start of a visible transformation that will reinvigorate one of Ashton-under-Lyne’s most historic community spaces.