Plans submitted for ‘landmark’ £100m regeneration of Prestwich

Plans to transform the centre of Prestwich Village into a ‘thriving heart of the community’ have been submitted to Bury Council.

Prestwich Regeneration LLP – the joint venture between nationwide placemaker Muse and Bury Council – has lodged a planning application for the £100m+ regeneration of the Longfield Centre site.

The ambitious plans aim to cement Prestwich as one of the best places to live and spend time in the North West.

The design is said to have been shaped significantly by input from locals following two stages of consultation. The final plans include a new community hub, including a library and flexible community space that can be used for events, clubs, art and culture.

The building will also offer an opportunity to deliver a new Prestwich Health Centre, with discussions ongoing with the NHS and local GP practices.

Also included in the plans is a new village square with family-friendly social spaces. This has been designed to provide space for pop-up events like markets, food festivals, exhibitions and live performances.

A market hall will provide smaller spaces for local retailers to grow, complete with food hall and communal seating that spills out onto the village square.

Flexible retail and leisure spaces, including a new gym, will complement the high street and help to cater for Prestwich’s diverse business community, while landscaped outdoor and green spaces will provide new places to walk and relax.

The connection between the tram and village green spaces will also be enhanced, while the current car park in the centre of the site will be relocated to a new travel hub off Fairfax Road. This will contain electric vehicle charging points, cycle storage and parcel lockers.

Around 200 new homes will be built as part of the plans. This will include a mix of affordable housing and homes for first-time buyers, growing families and downsizers.

It is expected that a decision on the plans will be made in Spring 2024 with construction starting in mid-late 2024.