On the front foot! New Middleton scheme boosts shop facades

Posted by on 22 Feb 2017

Shops in the Middleton town centre conservation area have been given a much-needed facelift, thanks to a council improvement scheme.

The businesses around Middleton Gardens and Fountain Street, many of which are in 19th century buildings, have benefitted from a number of external improvements, including new gutters, rendering and repainting. The work was carried out by local builders Jackson Jackson and Sons Ltd.

Around 1,000 square metres of surrounding paving has also been replaced with heritage-style York stone, to give the whole area a boost.

Steven Hurwitch, owner of Adam’s Beds in Old Hall Street, said: “This project has transformed the shop and a lot of my customers have commented on how good it looks. It definitely makes the businesses more welcoming and has really given this part of Middleton a lift.”

The project is one of a number of improvement schemes in the town. A number of historic buildings, particularly those designed by the Middleton-born architect Edgar Wood, have already been restored as part of the Heritage Lottery and council-funded Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI).

Parts of Rochdale Road and Market Place have benefitted from extensive repaving, while the restoration of the historic staircase in Jubilee Park started recently and improvement work at La Minhaz restaurant in Market place is also almost complete.

A property improvement grant has also helped new businesses set up in the town, including new cocktail bar, XOXO, which opened in December.

Cllr June West, Chair of the Middleton Township, said: “This scheme has given this area a much-needed facelift and supported our fantastic independent retailers, many of whom have noticed the big difference the work has made. It’s also played a vital role, alongside our Townscape Heritage Initiative, in protecting Middleton’s fantastic heritage buildings.”