Work is set to start in October to deliver a £14m multi-storey car park and travel hub in the centre of Prestwich. The project is the the first phase of a massive £100m regeneration project to create a new village centre which includes demolition of the current Longfield centre, a new retail centre, market hall and community hub along with more than 200 new homes.
The first part of that plan will see the transformation of the current Fairfax Road car park site which currently has capacity for 168 vehicles. A two-storey, three -level car park will be built with 301 spaces.
A design and access report in support fo the plans said the north and west elevations of the building will be clad in feature brick panels in keeping with the Prestwich character. The south elevation will be clad in a feature perforated metal with the opportunity for incorporating a local Prestwich motif.
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The building will have 20 accessible spaces, 26 electric vehicle charging spaces along with 76 cycle spaces. Included in the plans is space for Amazon and other delivery lockers along with a transport live update information screen.
The regeneration project is a joint venture between Bury Council and developer Muse. Proposals set to be agreed by Bury Council’s cabinet next week request the release of £14M from the council’s capital budget.
The cabinet report said that subject to the entire regeneration project being granted planning permission later this month, work on the travel hub would begin in October or November and take around a year to complete. Key dates for the rest of the regeneration scheme are for work on the community hub, retail and leisure hub, market hall and public realm to start around the end of 2025 and continue until mid-2027, alongside the construction of the first residential plot . The remainder of the homes planned in the project will follow from 2026/7 onwards.
The report to the cabinet, said: “The project team is now ready to deliver phase 1A of the scheme which will provide a travel hub off Fairfax Road. “During the planning application determination period there were some internal changes to the travel hub in response to concerns raised by the local community regarding the number of car parking spaces.
“A more efficient arrangement inside the building has resulted in the number of parking spaces from 275 to 301. “Other changes have included an increase to the distance between the building and neighbouring properties at Highfield Place, and changes to the façade as a result of improved natural ventilation to the structure.”