Longfield Centre demolition to begin as Prestwich regeneration moves into next phase
Prestwich Regeneration LLP, a joint venture between nationwide placemaker Muse and Bury Council, has announced that the demolition of the Longfield Centre will start by early August, marking a major milestone in the £100m once-in-a-generation regeneration of Prestwich village.
Having served Prestwich for more than 60 years, the Longfield Centre no longer meets modern community needs. Its demolition will pave the way for the next stage of regeneration and the long-term transformation of Prestwich village.
Initial preparatory works have already been completed ahead of the Longfield Centre demolition programme, which will begin with the internal strip-out of the retail units and the main Longfield Centre building. This work must be done before the structures themselves can be dismantled. Demolition is expected to continue until early next year.
Throughout the works, noise, dust and vibration levels will be closely monitored and appropriate mitigation measures implemented, where necessary, to minimise disruption for nearby residents and businesses.
The demolition programme will begin with mobilisation works, ahead of hoardings being installed around parts of the Longfield Centre in mid-August. While access through some areas of the centre will be restricted, the centre will remain partially accessible to the public. Businesses on Poppythorn Lane and in the Radius building will remain open and accessible throughout the works. Safe pedestrian routes and clearly signposted diversions will be maintained around the site for the duration of the demolition programme.
Residents and visitors are advised that, once the site hoardings are installed, the demolition area will become a restricted construction site. For safety reasons, members of the public must not enter the site and should follow all signage and designated pedestrian routes throughout the works.
As part of the demolition works, one side of Rectory Lane will be closed for approximately four weeks during the middle of the demolition programme. Temporary traffic lights will be installed to manage traffic and allow the local community to continue using this road. Once the dates have been finalised, the local community will be updated.
Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, Leader of Bury Council said:
“This is a significant milestone for Prestwich and an important step towards delivering the vibrant village centre that local people have helped shape.
“The regeneration will bring new homes, independent businesses, improved public spaces and modern community facilities, creating a destination that reflects the ambition, character and future of Prestwich.
“While we recognise that demolition works will cause some temporary disruption, this investment represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the heart of the village and create lasting benefits for residents, businesses and visitors for many years to come.”
Chris Bishop, Senior Project Manager at Muse said:
“The demolition marks the start of real, visible change in the heart of Prestwich village, which is really exciting. We’ve been talking with the local community about the future of Prestwich for a number of years, so it’s fantastic to now be at the stage where people will soon start to see progress on site.
“The demolition programme has been carefully planned to prepare the site for the next stage of regeneration safely and responsibly. Some parts of the work will be more noticeable than others, but every step is helping move Prestwich forward and bringing us closer to delivering the new village centre the community deserves.
“We recognise that demolition work can be disruptive at times, and we’ve worked hard to carefully plan the programme to minimise impacts wherever possible. We’ll continue to keep residents, businesses and visitors informed throughout the works, with measures in place to maintain safe access around the site and keep the village centre moving.”
The regeneration represents more than £100m of investment in the future of the village, helping to support and accelerate the next phase.
Since the outline plans were approved in July 2024, the masterplan has been further refined. The current plan proposes to 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 new library, and green spaces at the heart of Prestwich.
Councillor Charlotte Morris, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Growth said:
“The start of demolition marks another important step in turning the vision for Prestwich into reality. This regeneration is about creating a village centre that is fit for the future, with high-quality homes, thriving independent businesses, improved public spaces and modern facilities that will support the community for generations to come.
“Major projects of this scale inevitably bring a period of impacts, but every stage of this programme is moving us closer to a stronger, more vibrant and sustainable Prestwich. The investment being made here will help attract new opportunities, support local businesses and create a destination that people can be proud of.”
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 be completed this summer.
Residents can follow the progress of the regeneration at yourprestwich.com, by emailing info@yourprestwich.com, calling the freephone information line on 0800 689 1095 or following the social channels @YourPrestwich.