Ashton Arcade plans granted extension

HARK Group has been granted a planning permission extension for its proposed 180,000 sq ft retail development at Ashton Arcades shopping centre. 

The London-based firm said the extension by Tameside Council will enable it to progress with its long-term ambition to transform the centre and deliver brand new retail facilities to the town.

These will be integrated with the transport interchange which is due for completion in 2013, the same time as Tameside Council will also have completed the Ashton inner ring road project.
 
Hark said it will now look to look in more detail at how the scheme will work in conjunction with other elements of Ashton’s regeneration programme to ensure a cohesive town centre scheme is delivered.
 
Rob Cossey, director of Hark Group, said: “This announcement shows that the council continues to support our ambition to develop the retail offer at Ashton Arcades. We have worked very closely with our public sector partners at Tameside Council and GMPTE to design an integrated scheme which can be progressively developed to continue the regeneration of Ashton town centre.
 
“Significant investment such as this in the town centre will help boost the local economy and bring new jobs to the Borough. Tameside Council and GMPTE both have ambitious proposals for Ashton and with the progression of our own plans, Hark Group will continue to work to deliver an integrated scheme of which Ashton can be proud.”