Mayor Bev Craig has announced a £20 million high streets fund for Greater Manchester, inviting businesses and community groups to bid for money to improve local shopping areas and attract more visitors. The fund, financed through the region's Good Growth Fund, will also be guided by a new high streets taskforce that will set priorities for revitalising town centres.
Speaking in Middleton town centre on Monday, Craig said too many high streets lack the shops and services residents want, singling out vape shops as a symbol of the problem. She noted that councils currently lack the power to limit the number of such businesses, and she called on the government to reform the national system.
Mayor's vision for high streets
“My view is that there are too many extractive or low-quality businesses on too many of our high streets,” Craig said. “I think vape shops have become a bit of a symbol for that, how there can be so many on a high street people simply don't understand.” She added that a high street filled with such businesses discourages people from shopping and spending time there.
Craig expressed a desire to see fewer vape shops and more support for local independents. “I would like to see less vape shops, but I would also like to see more local independents supported to thrive, yes you need a mix of national corporations on the high street, but actually how we support locals and indies is a priority for me,” she said.
The announcements were made in Middleton, where plans for a mayoral development corporation are already in motion. Residents and business owners in the town shared their views on what needs to change.
Local voices from Middleton
Michael Joyce, a 36-year-old mental health nurse from Middleton, said: “They want to start by putting a bank in, and we need more shops, more places to go to. The high street connects the whole community really.”
Andrew Lord, 57, owner of Lords of Middleton butchers, a family business since 1893, met with Craig during her tour. He said he felt “good” after their conversation. “More banks and shops would give it a real boost, and there are all these empty buildings, they need to find a way of taxing landlords who own them to encourage them to get a shop in there,” he said. Lord also highlighted the loss of banks, noting that people were queuing out the door to use them before they closed.
Jack Howard, 40, landlord at the Britannia Inn, described Middleton as a great town with few anti-social issues. “Middleton town centre is fantastic, it just needs a lick of paint, and it needs all the old buildings sorting out,” he said, adding that other town centres look beautiful and well kept.
Banking and post office priorities
Craig said she would work with local leaders to help bring banking facilities back to Middleton. She mentioned working with the shopping centre to open a new post office, addressing anxiety over the closure of the existing one. “There was a lot of anxiety around the closure of the post office in the shopping centre, and I think that's been task one,” she said.
On banking, Craig said they are exploring solutions such as a post office banking hub, where different banks operate on different days, and piloting community banking with Manchester Building Society. “But different towns, depending on the size, depending on the need, need different things,” she noted. “The post office has been the priority because local businesses tell me, particularly when they operate in cash, it's putting their trading at risk.”
Dylan Williams, a Rochdale councillor and vice chair of Middleton Township Committee, called it an exciting time for Middleton, with the mayoral development corporation set up with help from the Prime Minister. “We've got some really positive announcements that we're expecting for Middleton in the next few weeks that's going to really enthuse people in the town,” he said.
Future plans and business reaction
Mark Robinson, director of economy and place at Rochdale council, outlined plans to increase footfall through more events, improve active travel and public transport connections, and introduce more residential and evening leisure uses. “The future of Middleton, like a lot of centres, will probably be a smaller retail core and introducing more evening night-time leisure uses and developing that housing offer around the town centre as well,” he said.
Robert Downes, regional business manager for the Federation of Small Businesses in Greater Manchester, welcomed the plan. “Our nation is essentially built around the notion of the 'village centre', with everything else emanating outwards. They are the beating hearts of communities and we need to look after them better,” he said. He added that high streets need to be bright, welcoming and safe, and that bringing empty premises back into use and improving accessibility should be key parts of the scheme. “Easy in, easy out – that's what's needed. Local councils and other bodies like TfGM and GMP will all need to work in lockstep with the mayor to make this a success.”
