The demolition of a shopping centre in the heart of Ashton could soon unlock the regeneration of the entire town centre.
Tameside’s civic centre could soon see thousands more homes built alongside the region’s first fully-integrated Bee Network station – connecting Metrolink, bus and train services. Town hall bosses met on Wednesday, August 27 to sign off on finding a development partner to work on the major project.
Looking to appoint a contractor by Spring 2026 was described by deputy leader Coun Andrew McLaren as a ‘true statement of intent’.
Ambitions for this scheme would see 2,400 new homes built; 12.5 hectares of commercial space created to support businesses and jobs; and Greater Manchester’s first fully connected Bee Network station introduced.
To do this Ladysmith Shopping Centre, which has been a mainstay off Market Square since the 1960s, would have to be bulldozed. Both the Arcades and Ladysmith shopping centres are set to be reconfigured, the executive cabinet meeting in the Tameside One building was told.
The majority of Ladysmith’s retail offerings would be transferred to the Arcades next door as it would make space for 306 new homes. It would also become a gateway connecting a revitalised Market Square to the transport interchange via a new public realm where the old bus station once stood.
Filling the space left by the old station would be 466 new homes and 5,710 sqm of ‘active ground floor space’, linking the town centre to its transport hubs.
The Arcades would then become the central hub for shopping, with a cinema and leisure facilities earmarked for the first floor.
This latest version of the Ashton masterplan builds on the ongoing transformation of Market Square and development of St Petersfield as part of the Ashton Mayoral Development (AMDZ).
The masterplan is aimed at ensuring people can move about the town centre safely and easily; creating welcoming ‘gateways’; bringing more visitors to the town; and building on public realm improvements in Market Square.
Tameside council’s executive cabinet believe the overarching town centre plan, boosted by the £20m Levelling Up funding, would futureproof the town for years to come. One project is already underway, with Market Square currently a building site as part of a £14.6m scheme.
A large canopy containing 10 market kiosks is currently being built , replacing the 104 fixed market stalls and eight kiosks that once stood there. The new covering will provide outdoor market traders with protection from the weather and is expected to become a hub for events and cultural activities.
After the meeting, housing and growth boss Coun McLaren explained how the Market Square project is progressing and now this latest movement would see further town centre development quickly follow suit.
He added that the £723,000 of grant funding from Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Homes England – to investigate new potential development sites – is another boost for the town and the Godley Green Garden Village scheme in Hyde.
As part of putting the project out for tender to contractors, town hall bosses are hopeful the development partner would also be able to help kickstart the masterplan for Droylsden town centre.
Ashton town centre, Tameside. Credit: LDRS
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