The 're-boot' of a tired town centre

The first residents are expected to move into a major town centre development before the end of the year. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and council leaders were on site this week at the Farnworth Green project to mark a major construction milestone.

Developers Capital & Centric said Farnworth Green was ‘a re-boot of the outdated precinct into a town centre neighbourhood’. Mr Burnham and council leaders were there to mark ‘topping out’ as the building has reached its highest point with the concrete frame of the main blocks now complete.

The development will have 85 one and two bedroom flats and 12 family homes, 20,000 sq ft of space for bars, cafes and independent stores, a ground floor community hub and a new public square.

Mr Burnham, said: “For years our town centres have been a focal point for communities to come together. But, as trends change, we need to invest in revitalising them to ensure they play that role for years to come.

“It’s brilliant to see the scale of regeneration underway in Farnworth and the project is powering ahead at speed. When done, it will help attract more people to live in the town centre – creating a place where people want to spend time, with shops and a community hub.

“The struggles of the high street are well documented, but we’re taking a proactive approach to re-position and re-boot town centres across Greater Manchester, while very much keeping the community spirit that makes them unique.”

Capital & Centric said the steel frame for what will become a community hub is now done and construction of family town houses is underway, with timber frames being delivered this month. Activity will increase over the next six months, with more than 120 people working on site, up from the