Stalybridge High Street Heritage Action Zone

Stalybridge sits in the foothills of the Pennines and developed around the many mills built along the River Tame and the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. The wealth created by the cotton industry during the Industrial Revolution transformed Stalybridge into a prosperous, confident town and a centre for textile manufacture.

Following the global financial crisis, Stalybridge has considerably changed, impacted by the property market downturn and competition from online retailers. In the early 2000s, Stalybridge enjoyed a nightlife boom and was even nicknamed 'StalyVegas', but many of these venues are now closed and remain empty. Recently the high street has suffered from low footfall and a number of historic buildings in the area have fallen into poor repair.

How the Stalybridge High Street Heritage Action Zone will help

With £1.3 million of government funding, delivered through Historic England, the High Street Heritage Action Zone will see planned improvement works on the Civic Hall which will be an anchor for reinvigorating the high street.

Historic shop fronts will be improved on Market Street and locals and visitors alike will be encouraged to spend more time in the centre through cultural events, including a heritage walk which will connect the town's key western gateway to its Historic Quarter.

Stay up to date

Below you can find just some of the progress being made in the Stalybridge High Street Heritage Action Zone. For more, follow us on Twitter @HistoricEngland

• Essential repairs to the Civic Hall roof will take place in 2022 to ensure the building remains fit for purpose as a key town centre community asset
• Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council is working with Historic England to design a programme of streetscape improvements to Market Street
• The council is also offering building grants to owners and tenants along Market Street who wish to repair and restore their historic buildings
• Local primary schools have been working with an artist to design a scaffolding hoarding to be displayed on the Civic Hall whilst repairs are under way
• More on what's new in your area

Working in partnership with

• Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council