THE HUNT is on to find someone able to design a new strategy for Hyde town centre.
And a vision for what it will look like is expected later this year.
Tameside Council has made no secret of its desire to overhaul the area, as well as build the proposed 2,150 homes at Godley Green Garden Village.
A High Street Task Force (HSTF) study, under the banner of ‘Unlocking Your Place Potential’ found the town can be improved.
However, it was summed up by saying: “The HSTF Expert has identified ‘collaborative working’ as the main barrier to transformation.
It said: “We believe Hyde can improve its partnerships and communications with business leaders and the wider community.
“Stronger partnership between the council, businesses and the wider community will also build more capacity for making change in the town.
“A more co-ordinated approach will ensure greater impact from any investment and interventions, whether they are initially led by the public, private or voluntary sector.”
The HSTF report did list Hyde’s strengths, including local people sharing a pride for its town centre, a strong local identity and rich history, Hyde Town Team and POP.
And Tameside Council has proposed the re-purposing of the former Library site on Union Street, with potentially an 88 unit one and two-bedroomed apartment complex with a café and care provision earmarked.
Now it has sought quotes from firms who want to come up with a masterplan for a centre that has been criticised by many.
In procurement documents, it noted Hyde’s town centre has suffered as competition increased from neighbouring communities and retail combatted both the pandemic and the rise of e-commerce.
It also highlighted its potential of the area, including its transport links to Manchester and the fact the council owns several buildings in the town centre.
It would also create “inviting” pedestrian routes between the railway station, bus station and town centre and within the town centre itself.
Tameside Council noted that the core of the town centre is lacking in “good quality open, green and landscape areas where people can dwell.”
Whoever the authority picks in the coming days and weeks will create frameworks designed to promote the town centre, attract investment and secure confidence in Hyde’s future.
It will also include both long-term plans as well as ones that can be delivered within two to five years.
No one wants the Godley Green housing estate on he beautiful countryside but he council just won’t listen. They are useless.