COUNCILLORS look set to give the go ahead to converting a building housing a Hyde town centre store into a food hall and apartments.
Copperleaf Group has applied to put the facility in the site containing Poundstretcher, on Market Place.
And Tameside Council’s Speaker’s Panel (Planning) committee is minded to grant outline permission when it comes up at its meeting on Wednesday, April 17.
The Cheshire-based firm wants to invest £3.5 million in the scheme, which would create in the region of 35 full-time jobs as a food hall and 65 during construction.
It is claimed it would bring in more than £250,000 of additional tax revenue, £23,000 of council tax revenue and more than £500,000 of additional expenditure by occupiers in local shops a yar.
The Poundstretcher store does not seem to be affected, as documents state: “The application site relates to ‘back of office’ retail space that once formed part of a large, traditional Woolworths store.
“It is now under-utilised space associated with Poundstretcher and is not needed for the continued operation of that retail unit.”
And as an early indicator of the new masterplan to redevelop Hyde town centre, Copperleaf believe it can help regeneration.
Documents add: “It is the type of space that needs to be re-purposed in light of the structural shifts in Hyde town centre as summarised through the Hyde Masterplan.
“There is no longer demand for such large retail spaces within the town centre and the Masterplan notes the following:
“Hyde Town centre is ripe for regeneration and finally seeing the funding needed. The regeneration needs a figure head and instigator, something to bring those who wouldn’t usually come to Hyde.
“It would create a vibrant new mixed-use community., reveal heritage assets and layers of history within a new, contemporary use setting, activate an uninviting street and be an opportunity to create new landmarks for the town gateway for bus and pedestrian visitors.
“Considering the development teams’ wider stakes and care for the regeneration of Hyde, the vision is for the scheme to be a core asset and instigator for the future of Hyde town centre.”
The new building, which would also have 21 ‘one bed, one person’ apartments in three floors above, will be inspired by artist Harry Rutherford’s depiction of Hyde Market in his painting Northern Saturday.
And Copperleaf claim the food hall can help reverse the decline of the high street.
They say: “Recent decades have seen the dramatic decline of such spaces with economic attentions turned towards supermarkets and shopping malls.
“In recent years, the food hall has had a resurgence with independent food retailers and producers beginning to create exciting experiences across cities and more recently, towns.
“Our hope is that the food hall will provide a catalyst for greater social enterprise in the town centre, to draw those who might not otherwise come to Hyde.
“There is great precedent for this across the country and we believe Hyde could benefit greatly.”
A new ‘impactful, welcoming’ entrance would be created on Hamnett Street and a report for the Speaker’s Panel meeting outlines why officers are minded to grant outline permission.
It states: “The food hall represents a commercial use which is fully compatible with a town centre setting.
“The addition of upper floor residential accommodation is also deemed to be an appropriate town centre use.
“Both elements would generate footfall, increase local spend and contribute to the overall vibrancy of the area and are deemed to represent appropriate land uses in principle.
“The accommodation is likely to appeal to a number of key and other workers who have employment within the town and nearby areas.”
There are objections – although Royal Mail, whose base is nearby, withdrew theirs – for reasons including there being too many food places within Hyde, the additional traffic and impact upon level of parking on Hamnett Street
Additional noise and disturbance within the town centre was also raised, along with the impact on house prices and a suggestion the ‘development would suck life out of the remainder of Hyde.’
But the panel has been recommended to approve the application, subject to conditions, with the report stating: “At present the building is largely an underutilised asset which contributes little to the town centre.”
Any thing that improves the footfall in Hyde is a good thing , as well as bringing employment and more choice of food outlets , hope it gets planning permission
That will be the death of another pub which is right next to the proposed new apartments, the council need to give market traders a reduced rent on stalls because a market is more profitable with reduced revenue coming in than a market with no revenue coming in , it’s the same with the shops what benefit is there in raising the rents that the shopkeepers carnt afford which forces them out , then give a reduced rate to a charity shop , why on earth would I want to go to Hyde on a Saturday to do my shopping is all there is is charity shops and cafes , you really do need to reassess the reason Hyde town centre is dying.
Sounds good to me and central
This could be a great boost for Hyde. Would blend perfectly with the bar across the road from it. Bus and taxi links are really near.
Hyde has been declining year on year. The Old co op/ quick save building done up would add to regeneration.
Fingers crossed this gets passed and others follow.
Blackpool have Abingdon Market, it’s a great foodhall and had the same moans and groans during planning stage, ask any bar and restaurant owner in the same area and they’ll tell you it’s the best thing to happen to central Blackpool all business’ are thriving
Good luck Hyde it’s going to be amazing.