Revamped shopping centre and cinema at forefront of plans to give town a facelift

The plan to change the face of Ashton signed off.

Two shopping centres and an old bus station site are set to be transformed as part of ambitious plans for Ashton.

Tameside Council wants to push forward with its vision for their ‘main town’. The latest update of the masterplan would see the Arcades and Ladysmith shopping centres reconfigured to ‘better suit the needs of locals’. 

The majority of the retail offer would be transferred to the Arcades, with Ladysmith making way for new housing. 

Town hall bosses believe the overarching town centre plan, financed by the £20m Levelling Up funding, would futureproof the town for years to come. The meeting in Tameside One, council HQ, was told that having key tram, train and bus services into the area is a huge benefit that they need to capitalise on. 

The masterplan seeks to improve connectivity within the core of the town centre, with a particular focus on strengthening routes to and from the transport interchange, Metrolink tram stop and railway station to the north of the Market Square.

To do this, the local authority wants to create a passage between the transport hubs and the town centre through the Arcades. Currently it’s difficult to navigate your way between the two, the meeting on May 13 was told.

The Arcades would become the central hub for shopping, taking on the retail offer from Ladysmith Shopping Centre. A cinema and leisure facilities have been earmarked for the first floor of the Arcades. 

The entrance ramp to the car park would also be moved under the plans, taking it from the Warrington Street side to the Gas Street side. This would open up space between the centre and the train station.

The Ladysmith would be bulldozed to make way for 306 new homes under the proposals.

Just behind the two shopping centres is the old Ashton bus station site, which would become home to a new public realm with an improved link to the train station. The former leisure centre on the edge of the town centre is also due to be replaced by 62 new homes.

Coun Eleanor Wills, leader of Tameside Council, said: “Some of the conversations with residents regarding the regeneration have not always been positive. But we are investing in our town centres to make sure they are fit for the future.

“It’s not just about the market (which is currently undergoing redevelopment). We have to make the town centre accessible and visible. 

“We have great connections into Ashton with the tram, train and buses. We are now futureproofing our main town.”

The council’s executive cabinet officially signed off on the latest version of the Ashton masterplan, which focussed on the overhaul of the shopping centres.

Ashton town centre regeneration design concept. Credit: Tameside Council