The transformation of Stretford town centre is offering Oldham a glimpse of what bold regeneration can achieve, as the Trafford suburb prepares to welcome a new food hub as part of a wider redevelopment scheme. The hub, set on the site of a former car park, is one of the first visible signs of a multi-million pound plan that includes 248 new homes and 140,000 square feet of shops, bars, restaurants, a cinema, theatre, pub and a public park. The landmark Stretford Mall has been mostly demolished to make way for the new development, which aims to breathe fresh life into the area.

While the food hub is intended to draw people back into the town centre, its location on what was previously parking has sparked debate. Some residents and businesses fear the loss of car spaces will discourage visitors, while others see the project as the kick that Stretford needs. This tension between creating attractive new spaces and maintaining accessibility is something that will sound familiar to Oldhamers watching the redevelopment of their own town centre.

Local charity workers Conor Kelly and Zoe Sincock, both 34, are among those who welcome the addition. “Since the mall closed down, there’s not been a huge amount going on,” Mr Kelly said. “I’m just looking forward to having something in the town.” Ms Sincock agreed, adding: “There’s not that many places to go out to eat around here. So it’ll be nice to be able to go out for something to eat.”

Laura Fradley, 45, who works in a GP practice, feels the area has become too quiet. “They need to do something to bring more people or it’s just going to go back to a ghost town,” she said. Ms Fradley stressed that affordability must be a priority if the food hub is to succeed. “If it’s not affordable, I don’t think local people will necessarily use it. It’s worth a try, but at the minute it’s just a bit sparse.” She added that more shops and local businesses are needed to give people a reason to visit and boost footfall for existing traders.

Carole Kelly, 59, said she hopes the new space will work, though she is not entirely sure. “I would go there and I would like more places to go for a drink. I’m looking forward to it,” she said. Ann Rayner, 60, who is currently looking for work, believes the plan could be a “good move” that generates employment. She remarked that the town centre “was looking a bit old and dated” and that a new look might be welcome.

However, not everyone is convinced. On social media, some local people have voiced scepticism. One comment read: “The units they’ve spaffed all that money on already are empty, what makes these people think that spaffing more money away and taking away more parking will somehow bring business?” Another warned: “If people can’t park they will go elsewhere. Stretford will die again.” These concerns reflect the delicate balancing act that many town centre revivals face, including in Oldham where similar tensions arise between redevelopment and convenience.

The food hub is intended to operate on a temporary basis for 19 months, according to planning documents. Opening hours are expected to be from 8am to 11pm Tuesday to Sunday, with alcohol served from midday and live music permitted until 10pm on some days. A consultation on the change of use was held in early June, with a planning meeting scheduled shortly afterwards.

For Oldham, where the town centre is also undergoing a significant transformation, the Stretford experience offers a useful parallel. As Oldham continues to reshape its own high street with new homes, retail and leisure spaces, residents will be watching to see how Stretford’s food hub fares. The lessons learned — about balancing parking, affordability, and attracting the right mix of businesses — could help shape Oldham’s own journey towards a renewed and vibrant town centre.