People in Eccles have welcomed new regeneration plans, with one person saying the area has ‘died’ from a lack of investment.

Residents in the historic Salford town said they hope a transformation will bring more people and life to its streets.

It comes after Salford council announced the next stage of its vision for Eccles, with a draft masterplan for 1,272 new homes, redesigned streets, and a new community hub for events.

Proposals include a ‘refreshed retail offer’ with cafés, food and drink spaces, and areas for everyday services such as health and wellbeing services.

Church Street and St Mary’s Gardens are key parts of the blueprint, and could be turned into greener and ‘more welcoming public spaces’ with improved lighting and seating.

Led by developer Muse, the project is aimed at turning Eccles into a bustling place to live, shop, and work.

Salford council has launched a public consultation on the draft masterplan, which will run until March 31.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service spoke to residents and councillors in Eccles about what they want for the future of the town.

Janet Reygan, 72, moved to Eccles 27 years ago and fell in love with the area.

The Leeds-native told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I love it here, I would love them to make Church Street like Lord Street in Southport where there are canopies above the shops, it gets you out of the rain.

“I am excited about these plans for Eccles, I love the way they have focused on Saint Mary’s Gardens, it could be fabulous for Eccles.

“But we do need a proper market like they have in Bury because it brings people in.”

The regeneration of Eccles is focused around Eccles shopping centre, which the council bought for £4.3m in December 2022.

Demolition work at part of the shopping centre started last year, including getting rid of the old multi-storey car park and 14 shop units.

Some people in Eccles have been left worried about the current state of the town and whether it will ever recover.

Geoff Dunnington, 60, is a pub manager in Eccles and said: “There are a lot of empty shops, most of what’s left is charity shops, we’ve got vape shops.

“It needs something like a farmer’s market to back, that gets people in. Everyone goes to Bury market and it’s always heaving there, you can’t move.

“It’s been frustrating seeing it all die here, there’s just nothing now.”

Nathaniel Tetteh, a local councillor in Eccles, said the changes would be a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ to transform the town.

He added: “It’s super exciting times, what Muse have come up with has been really good to see. It’s been years in the making.

“People in Eccles told us they want a place they can live, they can eat, they can play, and a town centre that is very much vibrant and has a lot of green spaces. I think this plan delivers that.”

Councillor Lisa Muir said people ‘from all walks of life’ call Eccles home and want to see improvements in the area.

She added: “What they’ve said is they didn’t want to be the next Altrincham, they want a better Eccles, and this is about answering their needs and creating an Eccles for everyone.

“We’re trying to create a town centre that is economically sustainable, that pumps life back into the heart of it, that has green spaces, places for people to wander, and is safer.”