Plans for the regeneration of Hattersley are moving forward with new play-parks and improved access to popular woodland.

Councillors at Tameside's latest executive cabinet meeting were given an update of the programme of works happening in Hattersley in the past year, and what is to come in 2023.

The widespread regeneration of the area began in 2006 when the population had declined by more than half down to around 6,600 people, and the estate was suffering from a ‘serious lack of investment’.

Since then Onward Homes, formerly Peak Valley Housing Association, has demolished 900 homes, refurbished 1,475 homes and built 155 new properties.

Another developer, Barratt Homes will have built a total of 692 dwellings through a development agreement with the council, Onward Homes and Homes England by the summer of 2023.

Council leader Ged Cooney said: “What you can see is the work that’s going on in the towns now has changed them already within a short period.”

Through the agreement Barratt Homes has also contributed £4m into a fund that will enable Onward and the council to provide public realm infrastructure, such as playgrounds, improvements to natural spaces and improved parking facilities, within Hattersley.

The report to executive cabinet states that Onward have contracted with Playdale to construct four play areas, at a total cost of £262k.

Two of these are ‘traditional’ playgrounds and have been completed, located at two sites  at Fields Farm Road and Underwood Road.

Officers say the other two playgrounds will include equipment with a more ‘rural feel’, including an Adventure Trail and a Trim Trail, and are to be located opposite Porlock Avenue leading down towards Waterside Clough.

Planning applications for both these schemes are yet to be submitted.

The report states: “Waterside Clough is recognised as a resource with untapped environmental and recreational potential in the centre of Hattersley.

“Onward are currently working with a range of specialists to enhance the woodland and open access into Waterside Clough with a variety of paths, other surfaces and interactive features to deliver a recreational space whilst preserving and improving wildlife habitats.”

A new multi-use games area is also proposed to be located off Ashworth Lane opposite the Tesco petrol station and at the rear of the proposed phase two district centre scheme.

As part of the £31m Hattersley Central development, which is being built on the former central parade site, construction is currently underway on 161 homes, including 91 homes as part of an extra care scheme.

Of these 55 are for affordable rent and 15 for shared ownership. Construction began on site last January and is scheduled to be completed by mid-2024.

The cabinet agreed to reimburse expenditure on projects in Hattersley with a sum of up to £281k to finance public realm schemes and a sum of up to £318,000 to finance collaboration agreement expenditure.

The expenditure is to be financed through the funding held in the council reserve for the Hattersley Land Board, the balance of which was £4.7m as of April last year.

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