A public consultation has been organised to discuss Walkden Towns Centre’s £15million redevelopment plans.
The consultation will take place in the Link Mall, from Monday October 2 – Friday October 6.
The sessions will run from 10am–1pm and 3-6pm.
🔍 Sneak peek at #WalkdenTownCentre‘s future! Join us on Oct 2 & 6 (10am-1pm & 3pm-6pm) at Link Mall near Specscart.
Share your thoughts on our redevelopment vision! 🏢🛍️ #walkdentowncentre #towncentredevelopment #regeneration #planning #redevelopment #publicconsultation pic.twitter.com/3PqeOoOMbi
— Walkden Town Centre (@WalkdenTownCent) September 27, 2023
This latest wave of investment is set to enhance the Town Centre’s facilities by providing a more sustainable, efficient retail arrangement.
The proposed plans focus on the current retail space within Egerton Walk and Victoria Square, which are outmoded. This part of the Town Centre is set to be demolished and redeveloped to create new retail units.
Following the consultation, real estate management company, the Derwent Group, will look to submit a full planning application before the end of the year.
Hopefully the roof will be fixed so that it stops leaking. Walkden Town centre really does need a cash injection. It’s like a ghost town. I remember in days gone by how it used to be a thriving retail outlet.
I shop in the center pictured above and although the improvement plans seem good, I hope the management of the new premises does not mirror what I see every day while shopping at the existing complex. Here are some examples:
The default policy at the center seems to be never to turn on the HVAC system so it’s always cold during winter and hot during summer. It really does present a bleak experience of the interior. Does this place even have an HVAC system? If so, use it.
Maintenance is noticeably poor with lifts and escalators frequently out of order or simply turned off, seemingly to save money. The time between out-of-order and repair often ranges between 5-12 weeks. Once repaired it seems even less time before failure again.
As you walk around the complex it becomes very noticeable just how many buckets are dotted around the entire complex to catch leaks. The local joke is that it will soon reach the stage of one bucket per tile.
There seems to be a serious local youth nuisance issue at the center. So much so that security closes numerous entrances during lunch times and school closures so that the small number of beleaguered security staff can be placed at the minimal number of entrances to keep unaccompanied youths out. The center really needs to reach out to the local authority and local police and community officers to tackle these ASB incidents. At least hire enough security staff to man the entrances.
Fix the escators, lifts ans toilets. Make sur3 the roof doesn’t leak and heat the place. It’s an absolute disgrace at the moment.