Ashton Market Place work relaid after quality concerns 2026

Key Points

• Re-laying of the existing Market Place work is currently going on in Ashton-under-Lyne.
• The justification provided is that “the initial work was not good enough.”
• This has been clarified by the Tameside council members that this remedial measure is being undertaken without putting a burden on the taxpayer.
• The remedial measure has been taken before the overall project of the Market Square is finished.
• This project has been supported by £10.8 million funding by the Government’s Levelling Up Fund.
• The project will include pavements, benches, lighting, planting, CCTV, market units, and even event spaces.
• It is anticipated that the square will open its doors in autumn, with the inclusion of ten trading kiosks.

Ashton-under-Lyne (Manchester Mirror) October 10, 2026 – Work at Ashton-under-Lyne’s Market Place is being relaid because the original surface work “was not good enough”, according to the Tameside Correspondent.

As reported by the Tameside Correspondent, the work has been dug up before the wider Market Square regeneration project has been completed. The publication stated that the area is being relaid because the initial work did not meet the required standard.

Tameside councillors have also addressed concerns about who is paying for the remedial work. As reported by the Tameside Correspondent, councillors insisted that the work is “not being done at the taxpayers’ expense”.

The development comes at a significant stage for Ashton town centre, where the Market Square has been undergoing a multi-million-pound transformation intended to create a more welcoming public space, improve trading facilities and support events.

What Work Is Being Carried Out?

The immediate work concerns the surface at Market Place, which has been dug up and is now being relaid. The Tameside Correspondent reported that this is happening because the previous work was judged not to be good enough.

No further technical details about the specific defect, the extent of the area affected, or the timetable for completing the relaying were provided in the available reporting. The Tameside Correspondent’s account focused on the reason for the work and the councillors’ statement that taxpayers would not bear the cost.

The remedial work is taking place while the broader Ashton Market Square project is still in its final stage. Tameside Council has previously said that construction works began in 2024 and continued through to March 2026, although the latest Market Place work indicates that further adjustments are still required before the completed scheme is handed over.

Is Taxpayers’ Money Being Used?

Councillors have said that the relaying work will not be funded by taxpayers. As reported by the Tameside Correspondent, Tameside councillors insisted that the work is not being done at taxpayers’ expense.

That statement is important because the Market Square regeneration has been publicly funded through a £10.8 million allocation from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. The council has described the funding as supporting the revitalisation of Ashton Market Square and the Outdoor Market.

The council’s wider project information says the investment includes a large canopy structure, reorientated market units, new paving, seating, lighting, planting and CCTV. It also includes enhanced space for community events and performances.

However, the available reporting does not identify the party responsible for meeting the cost of the relaying work, nor does it give a figure for the remedial works. The councillors’ statement, as reported by the Tameside Correspondent, is the clearest public indication that the cost will not fall on local taxpayers.

How Does This Affect the Wider Regeneration?

The relaying work comes as Ashton Market Square approaches its official reopening. Tameside Council said in July that the square was in its final stage of works before reopening in autumn.

The council described the project as a multi-million-pound makeover designed to turn the square into a community space and visitor destination. It said the completed scheme would include ten permanent trading kiosks and allow more flexible use of the market ground for traditional and specialist markets, including the return of the general Ashton Outdoor Market, as well as cultural events.

The council also said the redesigned square would include more seating, enhanced lighting, artwork, greenery, handrails, bins, more open space and greater capacity for events throughout the year.

The latest work at Market Place therefore represents an additional stage in a project that has already involved substantial construction activity. While the council has presented the wider scheme as nearing completion, the need to relay surface work shows that final-stage checks and corrections remain part of the delivery process.

What Has Tameside Council Said About the Project?

Tameside Council has consistently described the Market Square scheme as part of wider investment in Ashton town centre. Its official information says planning permission was granted in September 2023, with main construction works beginning in 2024 and continuing to March 2026.

The council says the project has taken account of feedback from businesses, residents and other stakeholders. It has also said it is committed to minimising disruption and supporting businesses throughout the works.

According to the council, the regeneration is intended to support local traders, attract new investment and create a more inclusive and adaptable public space. The authority has said the square is designed to be a destination where people want to spend time, rather than simply shop.

The council has also linked the project to broader plans for Ashton, including improvements to nearby shopping and leisure areas and measures intended to strengthen the local economy.

What Has Been Happening at Ashton Market?

The Market Square project has been one of the most visible regeneration schemes in Ashton-under-Lyne. Tameside Council says it is funded by £10.8 million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund and focuses on revitalising Ashton Market Square and the Outdoor Market.

The council’s planned improvements include a large canopy structure to replace existing kiosks and stalls, reorientated market units, new paving, seating, lighting, planting and CCTV. The authority has also highlighted enhanced space for community events and performances.

Separately, Ashton Market Hall is due to receive improvements using £250,000 of UK Shared Prosperity Fund and FLAG funding. The council says these improvements will include a refreshed layout to support traders and a new food and beverage area.

In July, Tameside Council announced that new traders had been secured for the transformed square. It said eight of the ten available permanent spaces had been let at that point, with businesses including food, retail and service traders due to operate from the new kiosks.

What Concerns Have Traders Raised?

The regeneration has not been without controversy. In January 2025, the BBC reported that some local shop owners said construction had led to a substantial decrease in visitor numbers.

As reported by the BBC, Val Unwin, owner of Decisions Clothing, said her business revenue had fallen by 23 per cent since the project began in November. Julie Kelly, who had owned Sincerely balloon and shop for 26 years, told the BBC that her sales had dropped by 30 per cent since construction began.

Michael Barlow, who operates the Bow Street Cafe in the market square, told the BBC that after 18 months of growth his business had stagnated since construction started.

Tameside Council told the BBC that it was dedicated to reducing the impact on local businesses during construction. It also said the redevelopment would introduce quality seating, landscaping, new paving, improved lighting and enhanced CCTV measures for shopper safety.

Background of the Development

Ashton-under-Lyne’s Market Square regeneration forms part of the wider Ashton Town Centre regeneration programme. Tameside Council says the wider programme follows public consultation in late 2022 and feedback from the Love Ashton event.

The council approved the Ashton Town Centre Public Realm Strategy in March 2023. Planning permission followed in September 2023, and main construction works began in 2024.

The Market Square element is funded by £10.8 million from the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. The council says the project is designed to revitalise the square and Outdoor Market through a new canopy, reorientated trading units, improved public-realm features and enhanced event space.

The wider Ashton regeneration programme also includes plans affecting the Arcades and Ladysmith Shopping Centres, as well as the restoration of Ashton Town Hall. The council has positioned the Market Square scheme as a central part of efforts to make the town centre more attractive to shoppers, visitors, businesses and investors.

The latest revelation that Market Place work is being relaid adds a further chapter to a long-running regeneration effort that has already faced scrutiny over construction disruption, trader concerns and the pace of delivery.

Prediction: What Could This Mean for Ashton?

For Ashton residents, shoppers and traders, the relaying work may cause short-term inconvenience around Market Place, particularly if access, footpaths or trading areas are affected while the surface is renewed. However, the council’s position that taxpayers are not funding the remedial work may reassure residents concerned about public spending on a project already supported by substantial Government funding.

For traders, the immediate priority will be whether the work is completed quickly and without further disruption ahead of the square’s autumn reopening. Businesses have previously reported reduced sales during construction, so clear communication about access arrangements and completion dates will be important.

If the relaid surface resolves the quality concerns and the wider project opens as planned, the completed Market Square could provide traders with improved facilities, better lighting, seating and a more adaptable space for markets and events. The council’s aim is to increase footfall and make the area a destination for both shopping and community activity.

The development may also influence public confidence in the wider regeneration programme. A prompt, properly funded repair could demonstrate that quality issues are being addressed before the project is handed over. Conversely, further delays or additional remedial work could renew concerns among local businesses and residents who have already experienced prolonged construction activity in the town centre.