Eccles Town Centre
Masterplan Vision

The Masterplan Vision for Eccles Town Centre

The Masterplan Vision for Eccles Town Centre has been developed by Salford City Council and Muse. It has been informed by two phases of Community Conversation, and the 2022 Eccles Vision.

It brings together years of community and stakeholder engagement and sets out a long-term framework for how the town centre could change over the coming years.

The Masterplan Vision will be considered for approval by Salford City Council’s Cabinet on 10th November 2026.

If approved, it will help guide future investment and development across the town centre. It is not a planning application or a fixed design. More detailed proposals will come forward through future planning applications, with further opportunities for local people, businesses and community groups to have their say.

Downloads

Eccles Town Centre – Masterplan Vision Document

Eccles Town Centre Masterplan Vision – Executive Summary

The Community Conversations Report

The Community Conversation Report Appendices

Shaped by the community

In Autumn 2025, we asked what people wanted the future town centre to look and feel like. In Spring 2026, we shared the draft Masterplan and asked what people supported and where further changes or detail were needed.

More than 445 people attended engagement events and over 480 pieces of feedback were received across the two stages.

Feedback showed strong support for the overarching principles behind the Masterplan Vision.

Community Conversations Report

You Said, We Listened

Feedback from both Community Conversations helped shape and refine the Masterplan Vision. Here are some of the key changes and priorities that were taken forward in response to what you told us.

A more vibrant and active town centre

You said:
You wanted more reasons to spend time in Eccles, with a stronger mix of shops, businesses, events and community activity.

We listened:
Church Street has been strengthened as the town centre’s retail core, with a more consolidated retail offer and more opportunities for local businesses, community activity and events. The Masterplan Vision also includes flexible spaces that can support different uses over time.

A town centre that works for everyone

You said:
Accessibility needed to be considered throughout the town centre, with better step-free access, routes, seating and wayfinding.

We listened:
Accessibility principles have been strengthened across the Masterplan Vision, including step-free movement where possible, clearer routes, appropriate surfaces, seating and wayfinding. Detailed elements such as crossings and accessible parking will be developed through later stages.

Easier walking, cycling and public transport

You said:
You wanted safer and clearer connections between the train station, Metrolink, bus interchange, Church Street and surrounding neighbourhoods.

We listened:
The Masterplan Vision strengthens key walking and cycling connections across the town centre. Further transport and highways work will now test movement, parking and access proposals before detailed proposals are developed.

Greener streets and better public spaces

You said:
You wanted more planting, greener streets and better spaces to sit, relax and spend time.

We listened:
The Masterplan Vision includes more planting and greener routes across the town centre, alongside improvements to St Mary’s Church Gardens and Church Street. Opportunities for early delivery of visible environmental improvements will be explored.

Eccles’ heritage and local character protected

You said:
Eccles’ history, identity and important buildings should be protected and celebrated as the town centre changes.

We listened:
Heritage and identity have been strengthened within the Masterplan Vision, including the setting of St Mary’s Church, Church Street and other civic and historic buildings. A future heritage and artwork strategy will explore how local stories, interpretation and public art can be incorporated.

A safer town centre

You said:
Better lighting, clearer routes and more activity were needed to help people feel safer throughout the day and evening.

We listened:
The Masterplan Vision promotes clearer sightlines, more active streets and spaces, better-connected routes and more homes and activity within the town centre. More detailed lighting and wayfinding will be developed through later design stages.

The right homes and community spaces

You said:
New homes should support a more active town centre while responding to Eccles’ character and providing a mix of housing for different needs.

We listened:
The Masterplan Vision supports the delivery of sustainable new homes, including a mix of market, affordable and accessible housing, to support a larger and more diverse town centre population. It includes a mix of homes and tenures, with taller buildings focused in more appropriate locations and building heights stepping down towards the historic core. Detailed housing mix, affordability and accessibility will be considered through future planning applications, with an emphasis on inclusive design principles.

Explore the Masterplan Vision

The Masterplan Vision sets out how different parts of the town centre could work together to create a more vibrant, greener and better-connected Eccles.

It includes:

  • approximately 1,300 new homes, with a mix of housing types and tenures
  • more shops, businesses and activity on Church Street
  • a new Church Street Square that connects to St Mary’s Church Gardens
  • improvements to St Mary’s Gardens
  • greener streets and better public spaces
  • better walking, cycling and public transport connections
  • improved accessibility across the town centre
  • more opportunities for community activity and events
  • celebrating and protecting Eccles’ heritage
  • meanwhile uses and early improvements while longer-term plans come forward.

Delivery and phasing

Regeneration will take place over approximately 10–15 years, with timings remaining flexible as funding, market conditions and detailed work progress.

Change will begin sooner, with early activity, public space improvements, movement and infrastructure work, and the first residential phases progressing in stages.

Early activity and enabling work

Early activation and animation – 2026 onwards

A programme of town centre events and activities will continue, including quarterly Artisan Markets, the Get In! To Eccles music festival and community events celebrating local green spaces and heritage.

Public space quick wins – 2026–2027

A programme of early improvements is being developed for Church Street, with a particular focus on the top of Church Street and the area around Eccles Cross.

Movement, infrastructure and public spaces – feasibility 2026–2027

A detailed transport assessment will inform feasibility work, help identify potential projects and support later design and delivery.

Meanwhile uses – 2027 onwards

A meanwhile use strategy is being developed to introduce new activity while longer-term regeneration progresses and to test ideas ahead of permanent development.

Church Street and St Mary’s Church Gardens – 2027 onwards

An improvement plan will be developed for St Mary’s Church Gardens, with a focus on accessibility and alignment with any maintenance works being carried out by St Mary’s Church. Permanent improvements to Church Street will also be developed as the programme progresses.

First residential phases

Plots E and F – 2028–2031

The first residential phase is expected to provide approximately 250 affordable homes, together with supporting public space improvements.

Plots A and B – 2029 onwards

These plots are expected to form the second residential phase, providing more than 700 new homes in two taller buildings.

Later phases

Later residential phases

Plots J, H, M and N – timing to be confirmed

Later residential phases will support a key town centre gateway and improve the Southway connection, with flexibility in housing type and tenure.

Plots L and K – timing to be confirmed

These plots could provide lower-rise housing, including apartments, townhouses and family accommodation, with ground-floor retail provision on the corner of Church Street.

Plots C and D – timing to be confirmed

The final residential phase is currently anticipated to deliver approximately 181 apartments.

From Masterplan to Delivery

Cabinet approval would mark an important milestone and the start of the next stage.

If approved, work will continue to:

  • Progress the demolition of Charles House.
  • Bring forward planning applications for the residential-led parts of the Masterplan Vision.
  • Continue the programme of events and activities to animate the town centre.
  • Develop a meanwhile use strategy.
  • Progress detailed transport and feasibility studies to develop designs and delivery plans for movement, infrastructure and public space improvements.
  • Explore funding and investment opportunities.
  • Continue involving the local community and stakeholders as proposals develop.

 

Regeneration is a long-term process, however, Salford City Council and Muse are committed to working at pace to bring forward development and deliver early benefits for the community wherever possible.

There will be further opportunities for local people and stakeholders to get involved as individual proposals come forward.

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