Tameside is poised for a significant transformation in 2025, with several major projects on the horizon. The local community is advocating for increased housing, town centre expansion and a revamp of the borough's aesthetic.
With a fresh leadership team at the helm following a challenging year, there is hope that new construction initiatives can provide the much-needed boost to Tameside. The responsibility lies with the local authorities to initiate projects that will revitalise the borough's nine towns.
The epicentre of change in 2025 will be Godley Green, where further advancements are anticipated through groundwork and potential land acquisitions. While housing remains a priority for the borough, ambitious plans are also underway to enhance the leisure and culture sector.
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Here's a detailed look at the key projects expected to progress in 2025: Godley Green has long been earmarked for the construction of thousands of new homes, creating the Godley Green Garden Village. This is by far the largest housing scheme planned for Tameside, which finally received approval in November 2023.
The proposed 2,150 homes will be constructed in phases over the next decade. The plan includes a new 'village' divided into two halves by Godley Brook, each with its own centre, featuring up to 1,300 sqm of retail space, 1,600 sqm of commercial area and 1,000 sqm allocated for community use, reports .
Tameside Council has revealed that the MADE Partnership, a joint venture between Barratt Redrow plc, Homes England, and Lloyds Banking Group, was formed to provide the necessary expertise and financial capacity for large-scale and complex developments such as Godley Green. The partnership's agreement with Tameside Council marks its first deal since its launch in September, following its recent acquisition of land at Godley Green.
In other news, the council anticipates progress on the redevelopment of Stalybridge in 2025. The development plan for the area was approved by town hall bosses in April 2024, with a focus on the western side of the town centre near the train station.
The strategy includes new housing, repurposing unused council buildings, improving road, cycling and pedestrian routes into the town centre, enhancing the public realm, and providing better jobs and services for the area. While further details are yet to be released, £11.2m has been allocated for infrastructure works within Stalybridge West, funded by the £19.907m granted to the council as part of the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) capital grant, which is earmarked solely for the Stalybridge programme.
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The long-awaited multi-million pound refurbishment of Ashton-under-Lyne's market square has finally commenced. A large new 'feature canopy' is set to replace the current market stalls and kiosks, creating 'flexible units' for traders as well as for events and six kiosks, which will mostly be divided into two units.
Tameside's planning panel granted permission in 2023 for the square, adjacent to Ashton Market Hall and the Town Hall, to undergo a transformation with £10.8m of Levelling Up funding.
After receiving initial approval in 2020, plans to construct a 91-room 'extra care' affordable apartment block in Hattersley are expected to progress in 2025. The site will feature its own beauty salon and cafe, and all homes will be built for affordable rent – at 80 per cent of the market rate.
The apartment block will comprise 31 two-bedroom and 60 one-bedroom flats, many of which will be wheelchair accessible. The variety of homes is intended to cater to 'independent' individuals or couples over 55, who are either retired or looking to retire, or to downsize into 'more modern and flexible housing' that can adapt to care needs.
The A57 Bypass, a project that has been in the pipeline for half a century, is finally set to commence construction next year.
National Highways has announced that the much-anticipated bypass scheme, which has been in the pipeline for the last 50 years, will finally commence construction in 2025. The Secretary of State for Transport gave the green light to the Link Roads Project last year, but a legal challenge caused further delays.
However, the Court of Appeal dismissed this challenge earlier this year, allowing preparatory work to begin. This includes the creation of a specific works site off the A57, among other activities, setting the stage for the bypass's construction early next year.
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The project is expected to take around three years to complete.
In other news, the former Hartshead Power Station site, which has been vacant for 35 years, is set to be transformed into a park and 162 new homes. Planning permission was granted in September for the redevelopment of the old coal-fired power station and Millbrook Sidings in Stalybridge.
Over the years, numerous proposals for garden centres and leisure facilities have fallen through. However, Casey Group Limited now has a £12.5m masterplan comprising four development 'zones'.
The first zone is centred around the ponds and surroundings at the Printworks, which are set to be preserved as an 'ecology area'. The second zone, initially intended for a community hub, has been reimagined as an 'ecology enhancement area' on the previous power station site north of Spring Bank Lane.
The third zone comprises woodland along the path of a former railway line, while the fourth zone includes the old railway sidings off Crowswood Drive - the proposed location for 162 new homes.