A masterplan to transform the Greater Manchester town was approved last year – now we are finally seing movement
Droylsden town centre, with the Concord Suite dominating the skyline(Image: LDRS)
One year ago a vision to transform Droylsden into a thriving town was approved. But movement on the project has remained quiet ever since.
It is said that you can wait ages for a bus, then two come at once. The same clearly goes for Droylsden, as two major steps have been taken in the last week for the Tameside town’s regeneration.
The latest step in taking the Droylsden masterplan forward came at the latest town hall meeting, which took place behind closed doors. It is related to the town’s most iconic building – the Concord Suite.
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The 1960s building was the former home of the now defunct Droylsden council before it was abolished in the 1970s. It was also a venue for community events, dances and exhibitions. Now it sits empty and lifeless – ominously dominating the skyline.
The masterplan, tabled by Tameside council, put forward three options for the Concord Suite’s future: refurbish; part-demolish and refurbish; or a complete demolition and rebuild into something new.
Entrance to the Concord Suite, Droylsden(Image: LDRS)
Once this is done, the revamped Concord Suite would connect to the marina via a new canal path and park planned in the new vision for the town. Town hall chiefs met last Friday to discuss the steps forward, but they have remained tight-lipped on the details.
Sensitive commercial and legal documents meant the meeting was held in private rather than in public. But decisions made at the meeting on May 1 published on the council website said approval was given to ‘the next steps required to progress the masterplan’.
Council leader Eleanor Wills and growth boss Coun Andrew McLaren gave nothing away, other than that plans going forward were ‘exciting’. This move by council bosses came on the back of last week’s unveiling of plans for a 192-home scheme earmarked for the marina – another big step forward for Droylsden’s makeover.
Developers, True North Partnerships and CERT, want to build three apartment blocks on the land adjacent to the Lock Keepers site, behind the old library. All the homes would be affordable(up to 80 per cent of market rate), according to developers.
CGI of how the 192 homes at Droylsden Marina could look(Image: True North Partnerships/CERT)
In addition to the apartment blocks, the scheme also includes a series of duplex homes at ground level and a community hub. The duplexes would be arranged to maximise views across the marina, Ashton Canal and towards the Pennines and Manchester city centre.
Developers say these proposals aim to reinforce the waterfront as a focal point, improve connections between Manchester Road and the Marina and contribute to a renewed sense of place that attracts people to live, work and invest in the town.
This matches up with the ethos for the wider masterplan that outlines an ambitious vision for the town. When it was approved last year, the local authority said Droylsden has disconnected neighbourhoods, underutilised spaces, poor quality public realms and no clear gateways. This masterplan is seen as the way of fixing these issues.
Vision for Droylsden in Tameside Councils masterplan(Image: Tameside Council)
Droylsden is the only Tameside town on the inside of the M60, meaning it is the closest geographically to Manchester. With key infrastructure such as Metrolink already operational, there is belief among planners that it can undergo ‘transformational change’ and become a go-to spot for locals and punters from further afield.
There is hope the town, just four miles from Manchester city centre, can benefit from the successful regeneration of East Manchester – where the Etihad Campus and new Co-Op Live Arena are now thriving.
Junction and road improvements to the A662, which bisects Droylsden, as well as the installation of active travel routes to promote walking, cycling and wheeling are just one aspect of the plan. This would help locals move throughout the town easier, but there are six key projects being designed to help to ‘revitalise the town centre and attract people to use it more sustainably, more often and for longer’.
Here is a breakdown of the masterplan…
Canal park
CGI of how Hollinwood Canal Park could look(Image: Tameside Council)
The crown jewel amongst these plans would be the Hollinwood Canal Park. This would re-establish a north-south connection between the Marina and the retail core.
Next to where Tesco and Droylsden Shopping Centre currently sit, a new centre park and active travel route would be created along the old alignment of the canal.
Town squares
CGI of how Droylsden Square could look(Image: Tameside Council)
Droylsden Square would still mainly be used as a car park – like it is now – under the masterplan. But it would undergo a make-over with more greenery and see a new event space installed to be used for concerts, market days or the Christmas lights switch on.
Villemomble Square would see a huge aesthetic makeover, as it holds a key position on the crossroads of Manchester Road and Market Street and is the face of the town centre, whether punters arrive by tram or passing by car.
Tree planters, street lighting and new seating areas to complement the thriving businesses situated there are all envisioned in the masterplan.
Greenside Mill
Droylsden town centre(Image: LDRS)
The vision for Greenside Mill is not really in the control of the council, due it being privately owned, but the masterplan seeks to support it as an important employment centre. The council believes some private sector investment is required to restore the building and protect it against further decay.
A new branding strategy to market the mill and to raise the profile of the businesses has also been suggested. The idea is that it could then reach a wider audience, which could make it more of a destination for visitors to the town and potentially include new work spaces.
Reimagining neighbourhoods
Droylsden town centre(Image: LDRS)
An ambition of the masterplan is to create an environmentally sustainable neighbourhood that is well connected to the town centre. According to the local authority, the two 1960s estates to the east of Market Street lack connections, have unsafe alleyways and back onto the main streets in the town.
In addition to the new housing developments coming into the town already, the council wants to redevelop these estates. The plan includes creating energy efficient housing and better designed streets that encourage people to walk to and from the town centre.
The masterplan also seeks to develop safer spaces and streets for the young and old to use and provide a communal garden space for growing food.
Concord Suite
Concord Suite CGI, part of New Era’s vision for a new Droylsden(Image: New Era)
The major piece of the puzzle would be the iconic building in the heart of the town, the Concord Suite. The council believes this site plays a key role in the image of the town as it is visible from the main road junction and from the tram stop.
Consultation has taken place around how to best redevelop the space. The first option would see the building refurbished and bring it back into use whilst also improving the surrounding ground floor shopping parades.
The second option would retain the Concord Suite but demolish the surrounding shopping parade to make way for a new modern development. The third option is to bulldoze the building completely to make way for a rebuild.