Client: Bury Metropolitan Borough Council
Project: Prestwich Night-time Economy Masterplan
What were MAKE asked to do?
Prestwich is a diverse part of Bury and Greater Manchester. It has considerable wealth but also some more deprived communities. It is also home to a large proportion of the city's Jewish community. However, its town centre was considerably underperforming, particularly after 5pm. MAKE were asked to examine what the barriers were to developing a more vibrant evening economy.
How did MAKE do it?
Despite a masterplan from a leading urban designer, it was 'after dark lite'. MAKE were asked by the council to identify what was working after dark, what wasn’t and what could be done to turn around the town’s post-5pm offer.
We undertook a land-use and demographic analysis and identified a critical mismatch between the local population’s social category and (high) disposable income and the existing offer in the town centre. There was a lack of aspirational restaurants and cultural facilities and locals were travelling by car to other parts of Manchester!
There was also a lack of art, film, live music and comedy venues. Talking with residents it was clear that there was an unmet demand for this type of provision - not the kind of offer they could get at the multiplex but local and high quality cultural provision.
We engaged with a wide range of stakeholders including those leisure operators that did exist in the town, residents’ groups and public agencies to identify management problems as well as to explore how a better ‘cultural’ offer could be provided for residents.
We spoke to investors and property agents to understand why they weren’t targeting Prestwich for investment and what the barriers were to attracting quality branded and independent restaurant operators.
What happened next?
The council used our assessment to build the objective of a stimulating an evening economy into its local (spatial) plan for the town. As a destination, it has now improved dramatically.
What unique value did MAKE bring to this project?
Our experience of engaging with a wide range of communities meant we could get behind why the affluent local Jewish community weren't using the town centre and what would make it a key destination for them.