The multi-million pound plans to overhaul Ashton's outdoor market with huge 'feature canopy'

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Multi-million pound proposals to transform Ashton-under-Lyne’s market square which include a huge new ‘feature canopy’ have been formally lodged.

Tameside council wants to regenerate the square by replacing the outside stalls and kiosks it says are currently plagued by anti-social behaviour.

Under the new proposals, the current fixed stalls and kiosks would be removed and replaced with a ‘large canopy’ which would allow space for ‘flexible units’ for traders, as well as for events and six kiosks, which would mostly be divided into two units. Try MEN Premium for FREE by clicking here for no ads, fun puzzles and brilliant new features The total cost of the plans, which have now been submitted for consideration by the planning department, has been put at £10.8m which would be funded from the authority’s successful bid to the government’s Levelling Up fund. “The regeneration of the Market Grounds presents an exciting opportunity for Ashton town centre as a new modern market town offering space for different types of events,” the design and access document states. “Following consultation in 2022 with a wide range of public and stakeholders, concepts for the market square have been developed, with an emerging scheme to remove the fixed infrastructure to create a feature canopy and an inviting public realm space, creating a modern market offer that meets the needs of traders and the public.” A cabinet report stated the revamp project is centred on a vision where Ashton Market is the ‘beating heart of the town’.

The planning documents outline the creation of a flexible space within the square for events and market ‘spill out, with pop-up market stalls to extend into the main square creating an ‘active central zone.