£1.5m Pride in Place funding earmarked for community improvements across Tameside

Communities across Tameside are set to benefit from a £1.5 million investment aimed at improving local pride, public spaces and community facilities by March 2027.

The borough has been selected for the national Pride in Place Impact Fund, which targets areas identified as having higher levels of deprivation and community need. The funding will be allocated over the 2025/26 and 2026/27 financial years and is intended to support visible, local improvements across all parts of Tameside.

The investment will focus on three main areas: community spaces, public spaces, and high streets and town centres. This includes enhancing community facilities, restoring underused spaces, upgrading parks and play areas, improving lighting and street furniture, and revitalising shopfronts, markets and streetscapes.

Council leaders say the fund is separate from, but complementary to, the existing £20 million, 10-year Pride in Place programme already supporting Ashton and Hattersley. Unlike that programme, the new funding is expected to provide opportunities for investment across the whole borough.

Proposals for how the money is spent will be developed based on evidence of local need and feedback from residents. Priorities raised through Cabinet in the Community events included cleaner and safer streets, better-maintained parks, improved high streets and more welcoming community facilities.

With funding becoming available in 2025/26, a number of early projects have already been identified and are due to be considered by Executive Cabinet on Wednesday 28th. These include £20,000 for Eco Streets projects to improve neglected areas with community involvement; £61,000 for the installation of accessible play equipment across ten parks; and £30,000 for design, consultation and public realm improvements outside Dukinfield Town Hall, aimed at creating a better space for residents and events.

All of the proposed schemes are subject to approval, and further projects are expected to come forward for consideration during 2026/27. The council has confirmed that all proposals will be assessed before final investment decisions are made by Executive Cabinet.

Leader of Tameside Council, Cllr Eleanor Wills, said: “This investment means more communities can see real, visible improvements that matter to local people. Residents have told us they want cleaner, safer streets, better parks and high streets they can feel proud of, and this funding helps us deliver exactly that. It’s an important step in making every town and community across Tameside a place people feel proud of.”