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Stalybridge High Street Heritage Action Zone
Regenerating Our High Street

Background to the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ)
The High Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) programme
Stalybridge High Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ)
Our Stalybridge
High Streets Heritage Action Zones Cultural Programme
Press Releases
Get in touch
Off site links

Waterloo Road view
 
 

Stalybridge High Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ)

£2.55m of investment over 4 years to regenerate the historic core of the town

New 'Lost Trees' podcast digs into Stalybridge's historical roots Press Releases (tameside.gov.uk)

The Stalybridge High Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) has been created to help restore the town’s local historic character and encourage people to spend more time in the historic heart of the town.   The HAZ recognises that Stalybridge has a rich heritage and an incredible story to tell. 
 
The HAZ project is a partnership between Historic England and Tameside MBC and is an area of regeneration and investment that covers part of the Stalybridge Town Centre Conservation Area
 
There is a delivery plan to promote economic, social and cultural regeneration.  This includes nine key projects across the four years from April 2020 to March 2024. 
 
The Stalybridge HAZ will see improvement works on the Civic Hall which will be an anchor for reinvigorating the high street.  Historic shop fronts will be improved on Market Street and improvements to the existing footways and street scene along Market Street will create a Heritage Walk that connects the town's key western gateway from the railway station to its Historic Quarter. 
 
The Stalybridge High Street Heritage Action Zone Map shows the area covered (link or image)
 

Background to the High Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ)

 
In September 2019 it was announced Stalybridge would be one of only a select few places across the country to gain this special status.  The scheme gives Stalybridge a share of a £95 million fund over the 4-year partnership programme with Historic England.
 
Through the HAZ Historic England will provide £1.275million match funded by Tameside MBC to generate a total project fund of £2.55million for the town.  The project focusing on Market Street and the historic quarter around the Civic Hall will help to restore the town’s local historic character to encourage people to spend more time in the historic heart of the town. 
 
The HAZ programme has been designed around the outcomes highlighted by the public consultation carried out  during October 2018 as part of the GM Mayor’s Town Centre Challenge work coordinated by the Stalybridge Town Centre Challenge (STCC) Board, a working group including representatives of the local community, supported by the Council.  The consultation generated considerable public interest through survey responses and attendance at an event.  Full results of the survey can be viewed at: https://www.tameside.gov.uk/stalybridgechallenge  and the Stalybridge Action Plan Our Place Our Plan can be viewed here:
J002446-Stalybridge-Town-Centre-Challenge-Strategy-V5-NO-FOREWORD.pdf (tameside.gov.uk)

 
 

The High Street Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) programme

 
The HAZ programme was designed around the output from the Stalybridge Town Centre Challenge public consultation work and has several key projects to complete:
 
  • The Heritage Walk
This will establish an easily walkable, clearly signposted route, running the length of Market Street.  This will reinforce cross-town connectivity and improve safety.
 
  • A repair and reinstate grant scheme for shop fronts along the Heritage Walk. 
The repair /re-instatement grant scheme at targeted properties will enhance the Heritage Walk and street scene.
 
  • Repairs to the Civic Hall.
This work will ensure the fabric of the building is repaired and that the Grade II listed Civic Hall is future proofed to support new uses that maximise its potential.
 
  • Feasibility study and internal work at the Civic Hall.
A study to establish viable future uses at the Civic Hall and to carry out the work required to deliver this. 
 
  • Market Street Studies
Studies to provide an assessment of the existing condition of properties, consideration of use of upper floors, feasibility of creation of a community hub in empty units and evidencing ideas for repurposing the vacant units along the Heritage Walk.
 
  • Community engagement
To promote and raise awareness of the scheme over the course of the project.One project will consider the history of Stalybridge Town Centre through its shops, venues and people that used them.
 
  • Footfall counters in two locations on Market Street.
To assess changes in pedestrian and vehicle numbers over the course of the project
 
The project runs over four years from April 2020 to March 2024. 
 
The Market Street Studies, Civic Hall Feasibility and Footfall Counters have already been commissioned and work on the Civic Hall and the Heritage Walk is expected to commence in 2021.  There are further community engagement activities also planned for 2021.
 

Our Stalybridge

 
Stalybridge is your town.  But it is not just about the buildings; it is about the people who used them, the people who lived in them, worked in them, shopped in them, or had a drink in them.  They are all part of the story of the town.
 
Tell us what aspects of Stalybridge’s heritage you most value, what do you want to be able to pass onto future generations?
Did you or your family live or work in Stalybridge in the past?
Did you grow up in the town visiting the many shops, market, cinema, swimming pool and pubs?
Perhaps you took part in one of the many parades the town is famous for?
What are your memories of visiting the town from days gone by?
If you could visit one of the ‘lost places’ once more which would it be and why?
 
We would love to hear any memories that you have about the town and its shops, buildings and events.
 
We are hoping to develop a portrait of Our Town for people to share stories and photographs and build a picture of how the town has changed and where can we still see the memories of the past reflected today and how we can remember them for the future.
 
Please let us know if are able to contribute or would like more information about this part of the project.
Caroline Lindsay (HAZ project officer) on 0161 342 3127 or by e-mail caroline.lindsay@tameside.gov.uk
 
 

High Streets Heritage Action Zones Cultural Programme

 
Running alongside the main High Street Heritage Action Zone is a separate Cultural programme. 
 
This is designed to provide cultural activities to engage communities with their local high streets, and celebrate the role and importance of these historic areas as hubs of the community
 
Stalybridge successfully bid for the pilot round of cultural funding and that project will be delivered by Future Everything this summer.  Home - Future Everything
 
Following on from that a group of arts and community based organisation with Tameside came together to successfully bid for a share of the £7.4 million main High Street Heritage Cultural Fund.  Their project ‘The Bridge’ is still in the development phase and more will be announced soon.
 
High Streets Heritage Action Zones Cultural Programme | Historic England
 
 

Press Releases

 
Stalybridge High Street awarded funds for cultural programme Press Release: 25/05/2021
https://public.tameside.gov.uk/pressreleases/f1030pressreleasestory107.asp?story=3498&keyword= 
 
Stalybridge High Street awarded funds for cultural programme Date Released - 21/05/2021
https://public.tameside.gov.uk/pressreleases/f1030pressreleasestory107.asp?story=3498&keyword=
 
 

Get in touch


For more information please contact Caroline Lindsay (HAZ project officer) on 0161 342 3127 or by e-mail on caroline.lindsay@tameside.gov.uk
 
 

Off site links

 
Heritage Action Zones | Historic England External Link
 
Stalybridge High Street Heritage Action Zone | Historic England External Link
 
Historic England