Here are the latest publicly reported items about Ashton-in-Makerfield:
Shopfronts makeover and regeneration funding: A £6.6 million regeneration package is funding improvements to shopfronts and facades along Garswood Street and Gerard Street as part of broader efforts to revitalize Ashton-in-Makerfield in Wigan. This includes grants to local businesses and aims to refresh the town center ahead of a broader redevelopment, with plans for a new market square and public art installations to boost community activity and pedestrian friendliness. This initiative reflects ongoing investment in the town’s center and aims to attract a mix of startups and food/beverage outlets to create a more vibrant town feel [BBC article on the Ashton regeneration; Wigan Council context].[1]
Market square and public realm plans: Local authorities and development partners are outlining a plan to convert the historic market site into a versatile public space, with a goal of bringing back a market and hosting community-driven events, arts installations, and greening efforts to improve urban quality and safety for pedestrians and cyclists [BBC article; Wigan regeneration materials].[1]
Development activity nearby: A 6.7-acre development site off Windsor Road has been brought into active plans by developers, with outline permissions in place for around 90 dwellings and a reserved matters planning submission anticipated, signaling continued housing growth in the Ashton-in-Makerfield area as part of Greater Manchester’s housing development activity [Rowland Group / development news].[2]
Local context and history: The town has a market on Garswood Street on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and the Gerard Centre now stands where Crompton’s factory once did. This historical context helps frame the ongoing regeneration efforts and the shift toward a mixed-use town center with retail, housing, and community spaces [Wikishire; Wikiwand; Wikipedia excerpts].[3][4][5]
If you’d like, I can pull the most current article links or summarize official council documents (e.g., Wigan Council regeneration pages or planning notices) to provide precise dates and project milestones. I can also watch for updates on the market square project and share any new grants or contractor announcements as they emerge. Would you like me to focus on a specific aspect (market square, housing development, or business revitalization) or provide a timeline of the key milestones from the sources above?
Citations:
granted for the site in November 2015. The permission includes provision of nearly 500 homes, employment, retail, and recreational land. The site boasts excellent connectivity to Junction 25 of the M6 and Bryn Rail Station. OUR OBJECTIVES A Sustainable Urban Neighbourhood
www.wigan.gov.ukWe’re delighted to announce our latest land acquisition from the Jockey Club; a 6.7-acre site off Windsor Road in Ashton-in-Makerfield. The site benefits from existing outline planning permission for residential development. We aim to submit reserved matters planning application for around 90 dwellings at the beginning of August and have a build presence in 2025. Our proposed scheme includes a selection of 3-bed-semis, 3-bed-detached, 4-bed townhouses, and 4-bed detached house types. … We are...
www.rowland.co.ukA market is held on the market square off Garswood Street on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Crompton's, the hinge and fasteners making factory in Ashton-in-Makerfield, has closed and is now demolished. A shopping centre called the Gerard Centre now stands in its place.
wikishire.co.ukThe works are part of plans to regenerate Ashton-in-Makerfield in Wigan.
www.bbc.comAshton-in-Makerfield is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester, England, 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Wigan. As of the 2021 census,...
www.wikiwand.comScene of the aftermath of an incident, where a vehicle crashed into St Luke's Church Centre, Golborne Road, Ashton-in-Makerfield, causing damage to the building.
www.dailymotion.com