Good Growth Funding Secured for Prestwich

Prestwich is entering a new era as several major regeneration milestones have now been achieved, marking the start of visible change in the heart of the village.

For residents and local businesses, it means the long‑planned transformation of the Longfield Centre is no longer something happening behind the scenes. It is becoming real.

More than £100m of investment has now been secured for Prestwich – the largest the village has ever received – with the Council securing the majority of the funding through strong leadership and negotiation with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

A series of key decisions and actions are now in place, including securing £35m of Good Growth funding, appointing the demolition contractor, the Travel Hub on target to open this summer and submitting the planning application for the next phase of development.

This investment will create a bigger and better village centre with 248 new homes, an expanded retail and leisure offer, a much larger library, a new community space and improved access to NHS services.

Together, these steps represent the most significant movement on the project in its modern history.

Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, Leader of Bury Council, said: “As someone who was born and brought up here in Prestwich, I can honestly say this feels like a turning point for our town. Seeing such a huge level of investment coming in – and knowing we’ve now hit every milestone needed to unlock it – gives me real confidence about the future of the place we call home.

“For years, we’ve all talked about what Prestwich could be with the right backing.

“Now, with this funding confirmed and the project moving forward, it finally feels within reach. New homes, new community spaces, a bigger library, better public areas, more green space – it is everything a growing, modern town needs.

“We’ve already seen what can be achieved with the Travel Hub being delivered on schedule, and it shows what’s possible when there is real focus and care. I’m expecting the same determination as the next stages begin.

“There will be some disruption, but that’s part of any big change. I’ll be doing my best to keep supporting our local shops and independents throughout, and I hope others will too. They’re the heart of this place.

“For me, this moment is about more than buildings. It’s about pride. It’s about ambition. It’s about giving Prestwich the kind of centre it deserves. Now that the funding is secure and the milestones are met, we can all look forward to seeing the plans take shape and watching our town evolve into something really special.”

The Council recognises that regeneration of this scale brings some disruption and is grateful to everyone in Prestwich for their patience and support as work continues.

The appointment of DSM Demolition Ltd means work will soon begin on preparing the Longfield Centre site. This is one of the milestones agreed with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) to confirm Prestwich’s allocation from the Good Growth Fund, which is enabling major regeneration across the city-region.

Meeting these milestones on time protects the full funding package and unlocks the next phase of delivery.

Residents will start to see activity on site once the library has fully relocated and safety preparations are complete.

The Council will provide clear updates to help people plan ahead and is working closely with contractors to minimise disruption.

The regeneration is not limited to the Longfield Centre. The new Travel Hub on Fairfax Road is progressing well and is due to open this summer.

Once complete, it will provide more than 300 spaces, electric vehicle charging, cycle storage and better access to the Metrolink.

As the first major building to be completed, it will become an important gateway into the new village centre and support the daily rhythm of life in Prestwich.

The detailed planning application for Phase 2 has also been submitted and is being validated, setting out how the new homes, community buildings, public spaces and walking routes will come together.

A decision is expected in summer 2026. The submission follows extensive consultation and builds on the outline permission granted in 2024.

Across the regeneration, the plans include 248 new homes built to the Future Homes Standard, including 62 at below market rent, a larger library, new community rooms, a Market Hall designed to support independent businesses, a bigger village square, safer and greener public realm.

The Council will continue to keep residents updated as each stage progresses and will work with local businesses to support them through the transition.

Prestwich has long been recognised as one of Greater Manchester’s distinctive and successful places, and this investment marks the beginning of a once-in-a-generation transformation that reflects the strength and ambition of the community.

Improvements will reshape the village centre for the long term, creating a modern, accessible and thriving place for residents, visitors and businesses.