Prestwich: Residents to have their say on £100m regeneration plans

The council and developer Muse have released "early thoughts" on a £100m plus project to reshape the village.

A draft masterplan and new images have been released which aim to act as a starting point for the residents to have their say on regeneration plans.

Your Prestwich is an ambitious scheme that is tasked with transforming the Longfield Centre and aims to cement Prestwich as one of the "best places to live in the North West".

Plans to create a "new beating heart" for Prestwich include:

• A community hub that promotes health and wellbeing and provides opportunities for a new library, spaces for community events, clubs, art and culture, and the provision of key local services. The building will also offer an opportunity to deliver a new Prestwich health centre, subject to discussions with the NHS and local GP practices.

The concept design for Rectory Lane as part of the effort to regenerate Prestwich. Photo: Bury Council (Image: Bury Council)

• A new village heart with family-friendly, social places to meet. Cafés and retail spaces will spill out onto a vibrant village square, which can host markets and outdoor community events and provide green spaces for the community to gather socially.
   
• Complementing the high street with new spaces for independent businesses and a diverse retail, leisure and food and drink offer.
   
• An opportunity to enhance the Prestwich arrival experience from the tram by delivering landscaping which connects with green spaces in the village.
   
• Moving parking out of the village core and into a new decked car park off Fairfax Road in a sustainable transport hub with electric vehicle charging points and cycle storage.This will enable Fairfax Road to become a pedestrian friendly safe crossing and Rectory Lane to become a new residential street with front doors.
  
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• A mix of homes to help meet the fast-rising demand for quality housing in the village, from affordable homes, to first-time buyers, growing families and downsizers.
   
• Green spaces throughout, with the opportunity to connect surrounding green parks and woodland – such as Prestwich Clough, Prestwich Forest Park and Heaton Park – to the village centre.
   
• A carbon neutral development that will help safeguard and enhance Prestwich Village’s environment for future generations.

Joe Stockton, development manager at Muse, said: “This first conversation on our draft masterplan will help shape our plans to create a vibrant and highly-sustainable new destination for Prestwich Village.

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“We want to provide a positive legacy in the village for years to come by understanding the community’s needs, aspirations and weaving them into the public spaces, amenities and homes we create. For us, it’s all about building a brighter future, together.

“There are lots of ways that you can join the conversation. So, whether you’re a local resident, business owner, or are even thinking about moving to Prestwich village in the future, please get involved and let us know what you think.”

Council leader, Cllr Eamonn O'Brien, said: “The council is putting unprecedented levels of funding into transforming the heart of Prestwich.

“These are tremendously exciting and ambitious proposals which will help to ensure that Prestwich thrives for generations to come.

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"I urge everyone to view the plans and give us your feedback, as it is essential that we all work together in partnership to deliver the very best outcomes.”

The first "community conversation" on the emerging vision and draft masterplan will end on Friday, March 17, with plenty of opportunities for people to take part and provide feedback

• Residents are invited to attend a drop-in session on Sunday, January 29 from 11am to 3pm at Prestwich Library at the Longfield Centre, where the project team will be on hand to discuss the scheme.
   
• You can also sign up for an online Q&A at www.yourprestwich.com on Wednesday, February 1 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm where you can learn more about the plans and ask the project team questions.
   
• Register your interest in attending a community workshop at www.yourprestwich.com
   
• Complete an online questionnaire at www.yourprestwich.com.
   
• Fill in a freepost questionnaire in the newsletter being delivered to all Prestwich addresses in January.
   
• Email info@yourprestwich.com
   
• Call 0800 689 1095
   
• Write to ‘Freepost HAVE YOUR SAY’ (no further address or stamp needed)
   
• Follow social channels – Twitter @YourPrestwich | Instagram @yourprestwich | Facebook @YourPrestwich.

The council and Muse formed the Prestwich Regeneration LLP joint venture in October 2022 to drive the project forward.

The feedback from the conversation will be used to help the venture develop the vision for Prestwich Village.

It then plans to hold a further conversation on the detailed proposals for Your Prestwich in the summer before submitting a planning application by autumn.