After more than 25 years of neglect, Winstanley Hall has reached a critical point, with its condition deteriorating rapidly since 2017. Roof collapses, structural failures, and encroaching vegetation now threaten its survival. The proposed development provides the only viable route to secure the hall’s future, funding its full restoration and conversion into 36 beautifully designed apartments. The hall’s surrounding outbuildings will also be restored for community use, ensuring this historic estate once again becomes a living part of the Winstanley area.
The development includes 396 new one- to five-bedroom homes, thoughtfully designed to meet the region’s family and affordable housing needs. The homes reflect local architecture, follow best practice in urban design, and are set within landscaped surroundings that blend seamlessly with the existing environment. This carefully planned, landscape-led development will feature green corridors, cycle and pedestrian links, and sustainable drainage systems. It will also include a village green, play areas, and a community orchard, creating a healthy, balanced place to live. With proximity to the M6 motorway, the site enjoys excellent transport connections while remaining close to schools, shops, and local services.
At the heart of the development will be a new Heritage Centre, located near Pemberton Road. This welcoming hub will celebrate the history of Winstanley Hall and provide a social space for exhibitions, community events, and education. A coffee hatch and picnic areas will make it a friendly gathering point for residents and visitors.
The development will also include public access to the hall and parts of its parkland for the first time in its history, with walking routes, a two-mile nature trail, and generous open green spaces. A Community Orchard will be created within the grounds of the hall, encouraging outdoor activity, learning, and community engagement.
Sustainability is embedded throughout the design. The project will deliver 18 acres of public open space, the equivalent of ten football pitches, to support wildlife, biodiversity, and recreation. A 15-metre woodland buffer will safeguard existing trees and ecological habitats, while new planting and ponds will encourage biodiversity.
Homes will be built to modern energy efficiency standards, reducing emissions and supporting renewable energy use. The result is a permeable, environmentally responsible community that integrates naturally into the surrounding landscape.
Public consultation has played a key role in shaping the proposal. In response to local feedback, stand-offs between the new homes and nearby properties have been increased—from 25m to 30m along Pemberton Road and from 15m to 25m at Springpool. Additional parks have been introduced to maintain long-distance views, while landscaping has been enhanced to protect privacy and character.
These refinements ensure the development is both sensitive and respectful, delivering new homes and public benefits while maintaining harmony with the existing community.
Beyond housing and heritage, the project will make financial contributions to local infrastructure. This could include improvements to schools, healthcare, highways, and community facilities, as required by the council. The development will also generate local employment opportunities, both during construction and in the long term, helping to stimulate economic growth in the area.
The Winstanley Hall Development combines heritage, housing, and sustainability in a single, forward-thinking vision. It will save a landmark of national importance, provide hundreds of much-needed homes, and open a historic estate to the public for the first time in over four centuries.
This is more than a development project—it is a heritage-led regeneration that will protect the past, serve the present, and shape the future of Winstanley for generations to come.
Discover more about the plans, the restoration, and the benefits for the community by exploring the website.