Town centres in Greater Manchester are working together on a unique plan to ensure they co-ordinate to earn new investment and achieve the greatest possible success.
The eight principal centres all recognise they are facing challenges from online shopping and out-of-town developments.
Now council chiefs across the region are combining forces so the principal towns complement each other and develop in their own style. The proposed town centre action plan will be developed as a single programme and carefully sequenced to ensure greatest impact.
The plan is due to be considered by Greater Manchester’s Combined Authority at its meeting in March.
Investment could come from creation of a recyclable funding framework that supports both local and Greater Manchester investment.
Returns from investments will then be available to fund subsequent town centre projects across the region.
This should ensure that, subject to robust investment decisions being taken, investment can be recycled to support wider investment across town centres as part of a single programme.
Experts in the public and private sectors have worked together to analyse the unique character and potential for development in each of Altrincham, Ashton, Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Wigan.
The first stage of the plan includes themes such as new build offices and commercial developments, new residential developments and broadening the leisure and night time economy.
Further opportunities include education, new workspaces, investing in public realm, growing independent businesses and using vacant buildings.
More work is also required on town centre marketing, car parking, business rates and working with landlords and retailers.
Chair of Greater Manchester’s planning and housing commission Cllr Sue Derbyshire said: “The retail sector is going through a revolution and our town centres need to adapt. We need to ensure they stay as a focus for jobs, local communities, amenities and quality of life. We have a golden opportunity to act now before the full impact of online shopping, and we must seize this chance.”
The report gives strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for each of the eight town centres.
Lead Chief Executive on the planning and housing commission Eamonn Boylan said:
“We must look at what will drive footfall and bring new customers, visitors and investment so that town centres retain their economic role.
“Local authorities must be increasingly pro-active and create confidence in the town centre through a strong vision or long-term direction of change. They must lead partners, coordinating different activities or decisions to maintain progress and they must directly intervene to create the right conditions for investment.”
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