URBED study exciting for Prestwich
URBED, the urban regeneration specialists currently undertaking a study into the future of Prestwich, gave a presentation at last night’s Local Area Partnership (LAP).
It was great to see so many members of the public there, and the presentation went down very well. I think URBED and local people want much the same thing - a revitalised retail sector, some relief of the traffic problems, and an improved environment. It was great that URBED presented possible solutions to all of the problems that we face. None of them are insurmountable.
There are some concerns at this early stage, and rightly so. We need to learn lessons from the Radius fiasco - there can’t be another building that looks quite so out of place and dominates the landscape so much. There has to be enough thought given to parking.
But URBED showed last night that we can achieve what Prestwich needs, and if the right things are built in the right way, we can even make Radius look like part of a planned Prestwich, rather than sticking out like a sore thumb.
Prestwich has a huge amount going for it: Excellent transport links, proximity to the city and the countryside, a “village” feel and an affluent and vibrant community. It is spoiled at the moment by a lousy town centre, awful traffic, and a local street environment that is neglected. All of these can be solved, and now we all have the chance to have our say through the URBED study.
Exciting times for the area.
Rick
3 Comments
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I would like to state that the new development proposals for redeveloping Prestwich are excellent. I am 32 and have grown up in the area and would love to see the place transformed into something better. More shops, cafe’s and restaurants are required and it has shown that when you put in a restaurant like croma that people want to eat and socialise here.
Good luck
I really hope that all the talk of plans for the regeneration of the Prestwich area really do come to fruition. Unfortunately, I am doubtful. It is some years now since I heard the phrase ‘Didsbury of North Manchester’ touted in relation to Prestwich. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The centre has one decent restaurant (Croma), no decent pubs and half of the units in Radius remain empty. The only one which has recently been fitted out is now occupied by Quality Save. Now I have nothing against this shop (in fact I go in sometimes) but surely this is not the image we want to be projecting in this new development? When I have visitors I am, quite frankly, embarrassed to take them into the centre so delapidated it is. I really hope that (sooner rather than later) we have a centre to be proud of and one that is more likely to attract people than send them away.
Hi Sarah,
I hope they come to fruition too. The Radius units are filling slowly, with another restaurant (Ego - a Mediterranean one) due to open soon, and possibly another store on the way. It’s very frustrating and the economic times aren’t helping fill them, but they are slowly coming good.
I agree completely that we need a renovated town centre soon. Which is why the URBED study is so important and why we’re desparately trying to make it happen. Unfortunately we are somewhat at the mercy of the economy and the private sector, but if we continue to make steady progress towards a scheme that’s right for everyone, I am confident that it’ll be successful. I live in Prestwich too, so it’s personally important to me as well.
Rick