DROYSLDEN’S central Concord Suite is set to be partially demolished as part of a plan to regenerate the town.
The fate of the vacant landmark has been at the centre of conjecture for several years, with complaints it is being left to rot.
The Correspondent went inside the structure, on Villemomble Square, in 2023 and witnessed the degradation.
Now Tameside Council wants to partially demolish the upper parts of the building, including the former function room and dance hall, while retaining the lower levels and securing the remaining structure.
The authority’s executive member for growth, housing and homelessness, Cllr Andrew McLaren, described the scheme as the ‘next chapter’ and believes it will help, ‘bring new life to the site and support the wider regeneration of the town centre.’
He said: “The application marks another milestone in the delivery of the Droylsden Town Centre Masterplan, which will create new opportunities for residents, businesses and visitors while strengthening the town centre for future generations.
“The proposed works are intended to provide an appropriate route forward while enabling future redevelopment options including housing, retail and leisure.”
In a statement, Tameside Council said: “The proposed works are intended to provide an appropriate route forward while enabling future redevelopment options, including housing, retail and leisure.”
Suggestions put forward as the masterplan took shape included mothballing the former office floorspace and making more of the building facade and massing to become a positive feature of the town.
Part demolition of the existing precinct structure to create a new, flexible development opportunity site, separate from the tower, which can be marketed to operators and interested parties was also put forward.
A third suggested the Concord Suite tower being brought back into active use with total demolition of the central block, including the tower, to create a new large development opportunity at the heart of the town centre.
The decision to move forward to planning was taken at Tameside Council’s executive cabinet meeting in May.
And Cllr McLaren added: “Residents and businesses told us they wanted to see progress on the Concord Suite and a clear plan for its future.
“This application signals real progress and demonstrates our commitment to turning long-held ambitions into action.
“We want to see this site once again playing an important role at the heart of Droylsden, creating a better, greener, and more vibrant town centre for everyone and helping attract further investment into the town centre.
“This application is an important milestone, but it is also only one part of a much bigger programme of regeneration across Tameside.
“We will continue working with partners, investors and funding bodies to help unlock the future potential of this site and deliver the wider vision for Droylsden town centre.”