Peine Square transformed in £1m Heywood regeneration project

Monday, 22 December 2025 11:20

By David Murphy

L-R: Coun Danny Meredith, cabinet member for regeneration at Rochdale Borough Council, Elsie Blundell, MP for Heywood and Middleton, Coun Angela Brown, member of the Heywood Town Board and Chair of the Heywood Township,

A major upgrade to Peine Square in Heywood town centre has been completed, delivering new performance spaces, greenery and public seating as part of a £1 million investment.

The square, which sits in front of Heywood Civic Centre, has undergone a full revamp with new paving, lighting and play areas. It now also has a built-in power supply to support outdoor events. The improvements mark the first project delivered through the government’s Pride in Place programme, which will see £20 million invested in Heywood over the next decade.

The scheme was overseen by the Heywood Town Board, which includes local residents, business representatives, councillors and Heywood and Middleton MP Elsie Blundell.

Board chair Brian Davies said the project had been “transformative” and turned the square into a destination. “It will elevate the square from somewhere that people walk through to somewhere they want to relax and spend time,” he said. “With new performance areas, electricity and lighting, the project has ensured that we can hold fantastic events here which will bring the community together.”

Councillor Angela Brown, who chairs the Heywood Township and also sits on the Town Board, said the work had helped reimagine the space. “The work has lifted this whole area and will give us the opportunity to stage fantastic events going forward and enhance existing favourites, like the 1940s festival,” she said. “This is just the start of what the Town Board will be delivering for Heywood.”

While Peine Square was the first scheme approved, wider proposals have now been submitted to government, with a decision expected in spring.

The project was delivered by Rochdale Development Agency in partnership with Planit, the landscape architects who designed the new-look square. The build was carried out by Conlon Construction, with support from Hive Projects and Identity Consult.

Peine Square is the first of several regeneration projects for the town centre. A multi-million pound refurbishment of the adjacent Heywood Civic Centre is already under way and is expected to finish in early 2026. Further improvements to local roads and pavements are also being planned by Transport for Greater Manchester.