The Opportunities

We have so many opportunities to create a thriving, modern town.

The emerging masterplan is preparing the groundwork for Eccles’ future, setting out how the town can grow, evolve, and re-establish itself as a vibrant centre once again.

This stage is about building on Eccles’ rich history and strong sense of community, while making the most of Salford’s growth and the town’s position as a strategic gateway – connecting MediaCity, The Quays, and Manchester city centre to Trafford, the Western Gateway, and the wider west of Salford.

At the heart of this process is the community itself – ensuring that every step towards regeneration reflects the ambitions, ideas, and priorities of local people. As we look ahead, several key opportunities are taking shape.

Building on our history and success

Eccles already has a strong independent food and drink offer at the top of Church Street, which we can grow into an even stronger destination for local people and visitors.

At the same time, there is a real opportunity to celebrate Eccles’ unique story and historic landmarks, ensuring heritage plays a central role in shaping the future.

By strengthening and better integrating existing services and amenities, we can create a town centre that works for everyone – while also attracting new businesses into employment spaces, boosting opportunities and supporting Eccles’ economy.

Growing Eccles’ community

We’re exploring how new homes in the town centre could bring more life and energy into Eccles – helping more people live locally, supporting shops and services, and creating a safer, more active place throughout the day.

These ideas also look at how Eccles could better connect with the west, creating a more cohesive and welcoming town centre that links communities together.

Over time, there’s also potential to re-link Eccles to the waterfront and the Ship Canal, creating a vibrant new neighbourhood and strengthening the town’s connection to its wider setting.

Better connectivity

We’re exploring how people can move around Eccles more easily, safely, and comfortably – whether on foot, by bike, or public transport. A key focus is improving access to the train station, including opportunities to deliver step-free routes that make travel easier for everyone.

By breaking down barriers such as the ring road and improving links to Monton and nearby neighbourhoods, we can help Eccles feel better connected within the town and to the wider city region.

In the longer term, there’s also scope to explore new leisure and travel connections to the waterfront and the Manchester Ship Canal.

Enhancing Green & Blue Infrastructure

There is an exciting opportunity to transform Church Street from a grey barrier into a green and blue corridor – with safer, more welcoming public spaces and biodiversity at its heart.

Enhancing connections to Eccles Recreation Ground and making the most of the NCN 55 cycle route will encourage active travel, while greener streets and climate-resilient spaces will support a healthier, more sustainable town for the future.

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Locations

To maximise these opportunities and make them a reality, we have identified a number of priority locations that can be targeted.

Priority Locations

St Mary’s Garden

St Mary’s Garden sits at the heart of Eccles, alongside the Grade I listed St Mary’s Church. It is a place of quiet reflection and historic importance, offering a valuable green space within the town centre. We’re exploring how the garden could be enhanced sensitively – improving lighting, access, and wayfinding while respecting its heritage and character. Any changes would seek to celebrate its history and strengthen its role as a peaceful, welcoming space that connects people and places across the town centre.

Vicarage Gardens

Vicarage Gardens could become a welcoming new gateway into Eccles, creating a stronger sense of arrival for people coming from the bridge links and surrounding neighbourhoods. By improving east–west connections from Monton and introducing traffic calming measures along Albert Street, movement across the town centre can be made safer and more accessible. There is also potential to reintroduce two-way vehicle movements along Peel Street, helping to reduce the dominance of the ring road and create a more balanced environment for people walking, cycling, and driving.

Vicarage Grove

Vicarage Grove could be transformed to create a more welcoming approach to Eccles Train Station, improving both access and the sense of arrival into the town centre. Enhancements could include safer, tree-lined streets, improved walking and cycling routes, and a more accessible station environment for everyone. There is also an opportunity to introduce a clearer traffic loop with calmer vehicle movements, reducing car dominance and supporting easier east–west movement across Eccles.

Church Street & Regent Street

Church Street and Regent Street are full of character, home to some of Eccles’ most important heritage buildings. These streets have the potential to become a more vibrant and welcoming part of the town centre once again. There is an opportunity to enhance the public spaces along both streets, improving the experience for people walking between the bus, tram, and train stations. Reducing through traffic on Regent Street and reimagining the area outside the Library and Town Hall as a new Civic Square would help to create a safer, more people-focused environment that celebrates the town’s heritage.

St Mary’s Garden

Vicarage Gardens

Vicarage Grove

Church Street & Regent Street

St Mary’s Garden

St Mary’s Garden

St Mary’s Garden sits at the heart of Eccles, alongside the Grade I listed St Mary’s Church. It is a place of quiet reflection and historic importance, offering a valuable green space within the town centre. We’re exploring how the garden could be enhanced sensitively – improving lighting, access, and wayfinding while respecting its heritage and character. Any changes would seek to celebrate its history and strengthen its role as a peaceful, welcoming space that connects people and places across the town centre.

Vicarage Gardens

Vicarage Gardens

Vicarage Gardens could become a welcoming new gateway into Eccles, creating a stronger sense of arrival for people coming from the bridge links and surrounding neighbourhoods. By improving east–west connections from Monton and introducing traffic calming measures along Albert Street, movement across the town centre can be made safer and more accessible. There is also potential to reintroduce two-way vehicle movements along Peel Street, helping to reduce the dominance of the ring road and create a more balanced environment for people walking, cycling, and driving.

Vicarage Grove

Vicarage Grove

Vicarage Grove could be transformed to create a more welcoming approach to Eccles Train Station, improving both access and the sense of arrival into the town centre. Enhancements could include safer, tree-lined streets, improved walking and cycling routes, and a more accessible station environment for everyone. There is also an opportunity to introduce a clearer traffic loop with calmer vehicle movements, reducing car dominance and supporting easier east–west movement across Eccles.

Church Street & Regent Street

Church Street & Regent Street

Church Street and Regent Street are full of character, home to some of Eccles’ most important heritage buildings. These streets have the potential to become a more vibrant and welcoming part of the town centre once again. There is an opportunity to enhance the public spaces along both streets, improving the experience for people walking between the bus, tram, and train stations. Reducing through traffic on Regent Street and reimagining the area outside the Library and Town Hall as a new Civic Square would help to create a safer, more people-focused environment that celebrates the town’s heritage.

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