Big changes coming to Prestwich
as Longfield Centre demolition preparations start
Work has begun to pave the way for the demolition of the 60-year-old Longfield Centre, marking a major milestone in the £100 million transformation of Prestwich Village. Delivered by Prestwich LLP, a joint venture between nationwide placemaker Muse and Bury Council, the once-in-a-generation regeneration will create a new beating heart in the centre of the village.
The Longfield Centre has reached the end of its usable life and can no longer support the needs of the community. The demolition, led by DSM Demolition Ltd, will make way for an exciting new chapter for Prestwich, including new homes, vibrant retail and leisure spaces, an expanded village square, and a new library more than twice the size of the previous facility. The plans are designed to build on what makes Prestwich special, while creating a modern, welcoming centre that reflects the needs of today and tomorrow.
Behind the scenes, the Prestwich LLP team has been working with local charity Manchester Pigeon Rehab to safely remove pigeons and their nests from the Longfield Centre. DSM Demolition Ltd is scheduled to carry out ecological checks and coordinate ongoing wildlife monitoring as demolition plans progress.
Extensive enabling works are also underway to prepare the site ahead of demolition. These include an asbestos survey, with any identified asbestos to be handled and removed by a specialist contractor, and the disconnection of utilities, with service providers removing meters in the area.
The library has now been fully vacated, with all contents safely removed and set to be relocated to a temporary home in the Phoenix Centre, while the new library is built. The temporary library in the Phoenix Centre is set to open in the coming weeks. Lifts across the library, Longfield Suite and Iceland have also been decommissioned.
Further works have included safely degassing air conditioning systems and coordinating with utility companies to ensure all remaining services and waste are properly managed.
Hugh Taylor, Senior Project Manager at Muse said:
“These enabling works mark the exciting beginning of the Longfield Centre transformation – an important milestone in delivering this once-in-a-generation investment for Prestwich.
“We are now moving into the final stages of preparation with our demolition contractor, and residents will soon see real progress on site as hoardings are installed and activity ramps up. Our priority is to carry out the demolition safely and minimise disruption to local people, and we’ll continue to keep the community updated as we approach the start of main demolition works and dates are confirmed.”
Rob Summerfield, Director of Regeneration and Project Delivery at Bury Council, said:
“Prestwich is a successful and distinctive place, and this investment is about securing its long-term future while protecting what makes it special.
The Longfield Centre is dated, deteriorating and no longer fit for what Prestwich needs as a village centre. Its demolition marks the point where long-promised change becomes visible, as we begin to deliver a new modern village centre that the community deserves.”
The regeneration brings more than £100m investment to safeguard the future of the village, including £35m from the Good Growth Fund. This funding recognises Prestwich’s importance and potential and is helping to unlock and accelerate the delivery of Phase two.
The demolition of the Longfield Centre is an essential part of the second phase of the regeneration plans. The proposed plans will deliver 248 build-to-rent apartments, a market hall with space for 13 independent food, drink, and retail operators, an enlarged village square, a new retail and community hub featuring a larger library, and new green spaces at the heart of Prestwich.
Phase one, the construction of a new £14m travel hub, will see the delivery of more than 300 parking spaces including EV charging points, cycle storage, and car club vehicles, which is on track to open this summer.
Residents can follow the progress of the regeneration at yourprestwich.com (where they can also register to receive updates), by emailing info@yourprestwich.com, or by calling the freephone information line on 0800 689 1095. Updates are also shared on social media via Instagram (@yourprestwich) and Facebook (YourPrestwich).