A Manchester commuter zone with top business links
Being part of the economic powerhouse that is Manchester, Tameside’s excellent location together with its superb transport connections makes it an ideal base for all businesses.
Almost half of the top 500 businesses in the north-west are based in the Greater Manchester region, along with many FTSE 100 companies and thousands of foreign-owned companies.
Tameside encompasses the towns of Denton and Droylsden to the west, Mossley and Stalybridge to the east and centres on the market town of Ashton-under-Lyne.
The population of Tameside is 219,324 according to the 2011 Census. This is a rise of around 2.9% since the last census ten years before.
The property market in Tameside is very encouraging for an affordable investment. Tameside’s house prices saw the biggest drop in Greater Manchester of 0.4%. The average house price in the district stands at £134,127 according to Rightmove. The North West as a whole has seen the lowest annual price increase of 0.2%.
Tameside has excellent transport links, located on the M67 Motorway which runs across the region, as well as the M60 Manchester Orbital Motorway, providing connections to the UK’s road network.
Frequent travel across the borough is provided by the Metrolink Tram system which runs from Ashton-under-Lyne to Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester City Centre. Regular services run every few minutes throughout the day and only take 31 minutes.
Rail services are also excellent, and the £600 million ‘Northern Hub’ rail project has begun, it includes new platforms, upgraded stations, electrification and additional track across the North of England. This will increase the capability of the network to places like Leeds, providing space for 700 extra trains every day and 44 million more passengers a year.
Adding to this will be a new £33m bus station in Ashton-under-Lyne. The district council want to relocate the current bus station to be closer to the Metrolink interchange. The site is due to be completed in late 2018.
Ashton-under-Lyne is only 20 minutes from Manchester Airport, which handles around 22 million passengers each year. It is one of the largest employers in the North-West, with some 19,000 people directly employed on site.
For more information download a free Tameside Property Investment Guide.
Economy & Employment
Employment in the area is set to grow by 16% in the next twenty years.
Greater Manchester is recognised as a world-class city, with one of the country’s largest economies. Between 2002 and 2012 the region’s economy grew at 2.2% above the national growth rate. The region is a ‘fantastic environment for business’ with its excellent transport infrastructure enabling competition on a global level, and is home to ‘more multi-millionaires than anywhere outside London.’
40% of Tameside are in full-time employment, and 11.9% are professionals. The highest percentage if workers are in administrative jobs, 13.4%. In Tameside the GVA per resident employee is £26,648.
The diverse economy of the region encompasses such growth areas as biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, digital and creative, business and financial services, environmental technologies as well as tourism.
Almost half of the Top 500 businesses in the north-west are based in the region. With the ‘Manchester Enterprise Zone’ offering incentives, more businesses are choosing to locate in the area and existing businesses are expanding and thriving.
Over the last five years, employment in the area has increased by nearly 8% and is forecast to grow by around 16% over the next 20 years. This includes an increase of around 6,600 self-employed, with the business and financial services sector the biggest contributors.
If you want to know more then download a free Tameside Property Investment Guide.
Investment
Significant multi-million-pound developments are transforming Tameside.
Denton’s Oldham Batteries site is earmarked for residential and leisure development. Work will commence upon completion of the £2m link road.
Watkins Jones is heading a five-year transformation in the south section of the town centre. It incorporates high-quality housing, leisure facilities and some commercial office developments as well as a small number of shops. There will also be a 30 boat marina on the Ashton Canal south of Manchester Road.
“VisionTameside” is a multi-million pound master plan, delivering a new exciting future for Tameside by attracting new businesses, and creating new jobs and opportunities for residents. A three-phase development of the Tameside College Campus will see three new Advanced Learning Centres in Ashton Town Centre and at the Beaufort Road.
The 34 hectares Ashton Moss Development in Ashton-under-Lyne will comprise of public space, a golf course, leisure facilities, a hotel and retail space, and 1.1 million sq. ft. of industrial/manufacturing development. There are also proposals for a Metrolink stop at the site.
St Petersfield is a dynamic business quarter gateway to the town centre of Ashton-under-Lyne. It starts in Henry Square and stretches along Old Street, leading to the retail centre of the town.
Transport
Air: Manchester Airport is roughly 20 minutes by car from Ashton under Lyne, the busiest outside London, and the only ‘global’ gateway to Northern England. It has two runways and three terminals, offering flights to over 190 destinations and handling 22 million passengers each year.
Rail: The Tameside region is served by 13 rail stations, offering a comprehensive network of rail services throughout the region and beyond.
Road: The M67 Motorway is in the centre of the Tameside region, linking directly with the M60 Manchester Orbital and providing ample connections to the UK’s road network.
Bus: The Greater Manchester region has an extensive network of bus services operated by various commercial operators.
Tram: Frequent and fast travel across the area is provided by the efficient Metrolink Tram system. The Metrolink tram system runs from Ashton-under-Lyne to Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester City Centre. It seamlessly connects to the major tourist attractions and railway stations, with regular services running every few minutes throughout the day.
Education
Tameside has 77 primary schools, 15 secondary schools, 5 special schools, 6 independent schools and 3 further education colleges in its catchment area.
Tameside has 77 primary schools, 15 secondary schools, five special schools, six independent schools and three further education colleges in its catchment area.
Notable schools include Fairfield High School for Girls, a girls’ secondary academy located in Droylsden, Tameside, with 950 girls enrolled and over 50 teachers on staff. The school’s ethos is strong and traditional, with a commitment to academic success, including high standards of behaviour and appearance. The school was established in 1796 and has been providing education for over 220 years.
Further Education: Tameside College offers a range of courses for students from Ashton-under-Lyne and the surrounding area. These courses include NVQs, BTECs, Apprenticeships and Access courses. The college also runs evening adult learning courses and operates from three Local Learning Centres in Ashton-under-Lyne, Droylsden and Hyde. Tameside College also owns and operates Hyde Clarendon Sixth Form College, offering A-Levels to local school-leavers.
Higher Education: Around 40,000 students attend the University of Manchester, a large research university formed in 2004. Also in the city is Manchester Metropolitan University. Its headquarters and central campus are in the city of Manchester with additional facilities in Cheshire.
Shops & Leisure
Shopping & Dining: There are plenty of shopping sites to tempt shoppers and diners in the region, from quaint independent side-street artisan boutiques, through to high street names, and designer outlets.
A quick journey to Manchester’s city centre takes residents to the famous Manchester Arndale Centre, the largest in the Arndale group, with over 200 shops and major department stores throughout its three floors. The centre attracts 41 million visitors annually.
Sport & Culture: The Greater Manchester region is home to over 30 sports and leisure centres, catering to a variety of tastes.
For the less sport-minded there is a wealth of culture and history to explore, from castles, museums, heritage centres, galleries and historical houses and gardens.
Green Spaces: There are five parks in Ashton-under-Lyne alone, three of which currently hold the prestigious ‘green flag’ award.
A short journey will take you to the heart of the Peak District National Park, over 550 sq. miles of undulating park and woodland. The park attracts many visitors yearly thanks to its historic villages and towns and its many sights and outdoor activities.
