Tameside council has announced a £1bn borough-wide regeneration plan that promises thousands of new homes, revitalised town centres, and improved transport links across its nine towns. The plan, named 'Homes, Spaces, Places', aims to reposition Tameside as one of the UK's best-connected and most investable locations.
Ashton Town Centre Leads the Way
The council has purchased the Ladysmith Shopping Centre in Ashton town centre for an undisclosed sum, marking a major step in the regeneration strategy. The 151,502 sq ft centre will continue operating as normal under council ownership, but future plans involve transferring most retail to the Arcades shopping centre next door, with the Ladysmith site to be bulldozed for 306 new homes. A cinema and leisure facilities are earmarked for the Arcades' first floor.
The acquisition is part of a wider £1bn investment that has already secured over £250m in public funding. The council aims to deliver 5,000 new homes and 3,000 skilled jobs, with a focus on creating experience-led town centres. Ashton's Market Square is currently undergoing a £10.8m transformation, and the Grade II-listed Town Hall is set to reopen by 2030 after a revamp.
Transport-Led Development
Nicola Elsworth, director of strategic growth at Tameside council, said: "We will be the best connected borough outside of London. It's building on the strengths around transport connections." The plan includes increasing train services to Ashton, which currently has one train per hour, and integrating with the Bee Network. All nine towns have train or tram links to Manchester and Yorkshire.
The council is also investing its own money to boost delivery. "We as a council are investing our money to further boost delivery to make sure our town centres do what they need to do for our residents," Elsworth added.
Developments Across the Borough
Major residential schemes are underway in Droylsden and Stalybridge. Droylsden Marina will see 192 affordable homes, while Stalybridge station will gain 102 homes, kick-starting a £20m town centre overhaul that includes the Civic Hall and £11.1m for the western edge. Denton has received £17m from central government, partly for regenerating Festival Hall and improving public spaces and cycling routes.
Hyde is set to host the Godley Green Garden Village, a massive scheme split by Godley Brook, featuring up to 2,150 homes, 1,300 sqm of retail, 1,600 sqm of commercial space, and 1,000 sqm for community use. The development will connect Hyde and Hattersley, which also benefits from £20m in Pride in Place funding, with spending decisions made by the local community.
Overcoming Past Challenges
Coun Andrew McLaren, deputy leader of Tameside council, attributed the recent investment surge to a coherent strategy. "What Tameside offers now is a coherent plan. That is why we're getting more and more private investment because people can see that everything is joined up," he said. He cited the Oryx industrial development in Dukinfield, which created 250 jobs and moved from planning to site clearance in six months.
McLaren added: "The developer, Oryx, said something that stuck with me, which is that in Tameside, particularly around the motorway corridor like Denton and Droylsden, there is a real pent up commercial demand that is now being realised because Tameside is open for business."
Political Stability Concerns
However, the council's Labour administration lost overall control in the May local elections, dropping from 38 to 25 councillors, with Reform UK winning 18 of 19 seats in Dukinfield. Labour now runs a minority administration with independent support. McLaren acknowledged: "Political stability is vital. I would be disingenuous if I said political instability wouldn't be an issue." He stressed that growth units and masterplans are already in place to safeguard future delivery.
