Urban regeneration success at Stanley Square in Sale

High street footfall across the UK has experienced a mixed performance in 2025. A strong start to the year was followed by fluctuating summer results and a slowdown in September.

Yet while national trends point to uncertainty, some town centres are proving remarkably resilient. The difference? Collaboration.

In places where developers collaborate with communities, regeneration is delivering sustained success. At Stanley Square, for example, footfall has risen 7% so far this year and is forecast to end 2025 10% higher than in 2024, with around 50,000 weekly visitors. The destination now boasts a thriving mix of independent businesses, many of which are led by local people, alongside new openings that continue to strengthen its community appeal.

Years of shifting consumer habits, rising vacancy rates and the growth of online retail have left many high streets questioning their purpose. However, amid these challenges, a model of regeneration that prioritises people, placemaking and partnership is proving successful.

At Altered Space, we believe the most successful regeneration stories are built through this collaborative approach. That collaboration can take many forms, from positive local engagement and close relationships with planning authorities to partnerships with businesses and communities. Councils hold the long-term vision for their communities, while developers and asset managers bring the agility and creativity to make those visions real. When these strengths align, the result is not just a revived high street, it’s a town that thrives again.

A vision brought to life at Stanley Square

Nowhere is that clearer than in our work at Stanley Square in Sale. What was once a struggling 1960s shopping precinct has been transformed into a vibrant mixed-use asset that celebrates the best of local life. Delivered with entirely private investment, the scheme was enhanced with the support of Trafford Council, which embraced our proposals and collaborated with us to ensure our vision was fully aligned with the community’s needs.

Through a carefully phased programme, Altered Space delivered multiple stages of transformation – including the Kids Planet nursery, full refurbishment of the previously vacant Springfield House office building, and extensive retail scheme upgrades.

Footfall has risen dramatically, new businesses have flourished, and the town centre has reclaimed its role as a true social hub.

One example of the collaborative spirit is the family-owned independent cinema, Northern Light Cinema, which partners with local restaurant Wood Fire Smoke to deliver pizzas to guests as they enjoy a film. From cafés and boutiques to a new gym and coworking spaces, Stanley Square now embodies the rhythm of everyday life, making it a perfect location for people to live, work, and play.

This success has been built on a strong working relationship with Trafford Council’s planning team, whose constructive and flexible approach enabled us to deliver our long-term masterplan vision. Their support at both the officer and local levels helped ensure our ideas could be brought to life efficiently and with lasting community benefit.

Respecting heritage, building for the future

For Altered Space, regeneration was never about erasing the past. It was about understanding what residents loved about Sale and giving that identity a new chapter.

By retaining architectural character and weaving in contemporary design, Stanley Square reflects the town’s heritage while introducing the energy and independence of a new generation of businesses. This privately led regeneration was informed by extensive local engagement, ensuring the evolution of Stanley Square stayed true to the town’s identity.

Local input shaped everything from materials to tenant mix, ensuring that what emerged truly belonged to Sale.

The outcome is authenticity: a space that locals are proud of and visitors are drawn to. Working closely with residents of Sale has fostered belonging and loyalty, proving that regeneration rooted in respect for community identity delivers deeper, longer-lasting impact.

Collaboration that drives economic resilience

The focus has always been sustainability – creating a self-supporting ecosystem that keeps Stanley Square active from day to night. We’ve nurtured a growing mix of cafés, restaurants, bars, and leisure spaces, helping to strengthen both the daytime and evening economies.

The results speak for themselves: weekly visitor numbers now exceed 50,000, and hundreds of new jobs have been created across a diverse range of businesses. This collaboration has turned Stanley Square into more than a successful mixed-use asset; it’s a self-sufficient, resilient local economy that benefits residents, attracts investment and reinforces Sale’s position as one of Greater Manchester’s most vibrant destinations.

A blueprint for future regeneration

While privately funded and delivered, the project highlights how open communication and mutual respect between developers and local authorities can accelerate positive outcomes. When councils and developers share a vision, risks are reduced, outcomes are stronger, and communities see tangible results that go beyond the physical environment.

At Altered Space, we see this as a blueprint for the future of urban regeneration – one that blends commercial vitality with community purpose.

As we continue to work with local authorities, our goal remains the same: to create places that are authentic, sustainable and built around people.

If you’d like to explore more of our regeneration insights, or if you are interested in working with Altered Space, visit: https://www.alteredspace.dev/