Creating a vibrant day-to-night economy through regeneration

In 2024, the UK’s night-time economy was valued at approximately £153.91 billion - more than double the day-time economy’s £69.6 billion. Yet when we first began work at Stanley Square, a recurring message from the community was clear: if residents wanted to meet for dinner or drinks later in the day, they were travelling outside Sale. The town centre simply wasn’t offering the kind of evening experiences people were looking for.

As asset managers and developers appointed to lead the regeneration of Stanley Square, one of our core objectives was to change that. We wanted to keep the daytime offer vibrant while also creating a genuine day-to-night destination - a place where people could shop, work, relax, meet friends, dine out and enjoy the local nightlife without needing to go elsewhere.

That shift has had a measurable impact. The transformation of the precinct has boosted footfall, supported job creation and strengthened the local economy. It has also established a thriving community hub that reflects how people actually want to use their town centres today.

Mixed-use assets that drive footfall

Research from the British Property Federation shows that these types of schemes can increase local spending by up to 30% compared with traditional single-use areas, and at Stanley Square, we’ve seen exactly how powerful this model can be.

Footfall at Stanley Square is up 7% year-to-date and is forecast to finish 2025 around 10% higher than last year, with an average of 50,000 weekly visitors. This momentum is the direct result of a carefully curated mix of uses that sustains footfall from day to night.

A thriving daytime foundation

During the day, essential services, workspace and family-focused uses create a reliable foundation of activity. Kids Planet Nursery, which opened in 2023 and created 40 new jobs, brings families into the town centre from early morning. The revival of Springfield House has reintroduced a significant worker population to Sale, with Edge Worldwide Logistics completing a HQ fit-out and employing around 100 staff on site. Alongside this, The ClassRooms has become a thriving hub for local SMEs, with its 14 serviced offices now 97% occupied. New services such as Right Legal, Solace Pilates Studio and Lanigan & Hulme have further reinforced the daytime offer and broadened the visitor base.

Across the afternoon, the energy shifts as independent cafés, boutiques and retailers create sociable, community-driven activity. Joe & Co., The Works and other local operators contribute to a welcoming environment that encourages people to dwell, meet friends and enjoy the square as part of their daily routine.

Building the evening economy

As the day moves into evening, the focus transitions naturally towards food, drink and leisure - core to building a sustainable night-time economy. Over the past year, Stanley Square has welcomed a number of new operators that are helping to keep people in Sale later into the day.

The Pho Spot, Wood Fire Smoke, The Bubble Room and the much-loved Northern Light Cinema have all strengthened the evening offer and reduced the need for residents to travel elsewhere for dinner, drinks or entertainment. The scheme will soon be complemented by the arrival of Pure Gym, Cuppa Bubble Tea and additional lifestyle brands that will extend activity even further.

Together, these uses create a self-supporting ecosystem - one where people can work, shop, relax, exercise, meet friends, eat out and enjoy local leisure all in the same place. This is the essence of a vibrant day-to-night economy, and it’s central to the continued success of Stanley Square.

Lantern Parade - Maggie Derry

Community-focused events

Events have become a major driver of footfall at Stanley Square, with some attracting up to 10,000 visitors in a single day. Core occasions such as the Lantern Parade, Makers Market, Twilight Market and seasonal community celebrations consistently draw large crowds and help sustain activity well into the evening.

Partnership-led events have added even more vibrancy. Trafford Pride, delivered with Waterside Arts, brought families together at Canteena for a lively day of music and entertainment. A VE Day celebration welcomed over 11,000 visitors, while a Comic Con featuring Transformers props and the TARDIS attracted around 6,000 attendees - showing the powerful role shared experiences play in revitalising town centres.

Alongside these headline moments, the high street continues to host a full programme of themed events, from DJs and artisan stalls at the Summer Twilight Market to Scary Con at Halloween and the Hong Kong Full Moon Market. Regular community activities, including the monthly Tea Dance for older residents, ensure there is always something happening. Together, these events help turn the high street into a place where people want to spend time, connect and return - day or night.

A blueprint for a modern town centre

The creation of a balanced day-to-night economy has reshaped Stanley Square into a destination that reflects how people want to live today. By combining mixed-use assets, diverse operators and community-led experiences, the precinct has become a place that generates value not just commercially, but socially too. Top of Form

To find out more about Altered Space, you can get in touch with a member of our team here: https://www.alteredspace.dev/