Haslingden Projects

Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund

Project timeline: 2021-2026

Haslingden is a historic mill town home to cobbled streets, an 18th Century listed merchant’s house and many 19th Century buildings. It holds possibly the oldest street market licence in England, with markets regularly held there since at least 1555.

Following the development of the Haslingden 2040 Vision, in July 2021, Rossendale Borough Council were successful in a grant funding bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for over £1.8m.

Due to a prolonged period of under-investment and post-industrial decline, the condition of the buildings in Haslingden’s town centre has been impacted greatly. In an effort to revitalise this historic town centre, Rossendale Borough Council received £1,837,700 for their project, Big Lamp - Shining Light on Haslingden's Heritage. The funding will support a five year project which aims to regenerate the area and encourage community engagement with the town and its heritage.

The project plans to create a new town square which will be used for community events, such as food markets and festivals. It also plans to:

• introduce a cycling infrastructure
• widen pavements
• refurbish its ‘Big Lamp’ (a local landmark)
• improve the area for wildlife and the environment
• introduce a one-way traffic system
• create Sustainable Urban Drainage systems

The Big Lamp project hopes to see growth in visitors to Haslingden following the town’s regeneration. The increased footfall will also support the local economy, bolstering existing businesses and creating new opportunities.

Project outcomes

The map of Deardengate demonstrates the transformation taking place in Haslingden town centre. This includes:

• Transformation of the northern stretch of Deardengate into a bustling town square, developing community engagement through vibrant activities and outdoor seating
• Improved pedestrian routes throughout the town centre linking retail hubs and residential areas
• Soft landscaping and electric charging points
• A revitalised market experience offering food, retail and events
• Wider footpaths to improve safety and accessibility 
• Artwork and landscaping to bring the space to life
• Improved lighting to highlight the town's features 
• Seating to create a community hub
• Parking and delivery bays for businesses 

You can follow the progress of The Big Lamp Project on the Haslingden 2040 website

Key dates and areas of work

This may be subject to change at short notice and will do our best to make sure we keep the most up to date information readily available.

Higher Deardengate:

Week commencing 16th June:

• Bethell set up temporary compound on Chapel Street carpark
• Markings will be made on the pavements and road carriageway
• Traffic management signs will be installed throughout the area

Week commencing 30th June – Big Lamp Square – Bank Street to Bury Road:

• The temporary traffic regulation order will begin with road closures and diversions put in place

• Pedestrian management will be put in place to allow safe movement for pedestrians within the area
• Access will be maintained for vehicles of private residents and to the private car park to the rear of The Lindens Rest Home
• Works will start on the east side of the area from Bank Street, north to Bury Road, starting with the hard landscaping:
  • Start – end of June
  • Completion – mid September
• The rain gardens and other soft landscaping for this area:
  • Start – beginning of August
  • Completion - beginning of September
• Works will start on the west side of the area from Bank Street, north to Bury Road –starting with the hard landscaping:
  • Start - mid September
  • Completion – mid November
• The installation of the refurbished Big Lamp, new public artwork and street furniture installation
  • Start - mid October
  • Completion – mid November

Week commencing 30th June - Higher Deardengate (Pleasant Street to Bank Street):

• Bank Street remedial works will begin:
  • Start – end of June
  • Completion - start of August
• Deardengate – west footway works:
  • Start – end of June
  • Completion – end of August
• Rain gardens – west side of Deardengate:
  • Start – start of August
  • Completion – start of September
• Deardengate – east footway works:
  • Start – end of August
  • Completion – end of October
• Rain gardens – east side of Deardengate:
  • Start – end of September
  • Completion – end of October
• Other works across Higher Deardengate which include the installation of feature lighting, other soft landscaping, street furniture:
  • Start – mid September
  • Completion – start of November

Week commencing 27th October – Higher Deardengate (carriage way works):

• Hard landscaping including planning of the existing carriage way, installation of re-used cobbles, line markings, decoration of existing lighting columns:
  • Start – end of October
  • Completion – start of December

All businesses will be open as usual

Access will be maintained for vehicles to private residence or private parking

Car parking is available throughout the town centre and can be found here: https://www.rossendale.gov.uk/downloads/download/11145/car-parks-map

Key dates and areas of work – John Street, Haslingden

This may be subject to change at short notice and will do our best to make sure we keep the most up to date information readily available.

Works to John Street are scheduled to start during the week commencing 17th November 2025.

This will begin with appropriate traffic and pedestrian management, with pedestrian access maintained as much as possible.

Works include:

• Remodelling of the kerb and pavement at the junction with Regent Street
• Removing old signs and poles and replacing them with new ones
• Removing old road markings and applying new ones
• Installing a new bus stop near CoOp.

The works are due to be completed by the end of November 2025.

During this time, there may be some disruption and noise which will be kept to the minimum as much as possible.

Further information about the wider works across Higher Deardengate can be found here https://www.rossendale.gov.uk/regeneration-3/haslingden/2

Please be mindful of any traffic restrictions that may be in place and if you have any questions, please email haslingden2040@rossendalebc.gov.uk

In June 2025 the public realm works on Higher Deardengate will begin.

There will be Temporary Traffic Regulation orders in place across Higher Deardengate and some surrounding streets (John Street).

These Temporary Traffic Regulation orders will eventually become permanent Traffic Regulation Orders.

The R1 bus (from Helmshore to Rawtenstall) will turn right, up Higher Deardengate,

It will then turn right onto Bank Street and left onto Bury Road.

Double yellow lines will be extended to maintain safe exit onto Bury Road.

The Higher Deardengate bus stop will be relocated to near the former Big Lamp Chippy, after which the bus will continue on its normal route.

The return route (from Rawtenstall to Helmshore) will see the bus stop at the bottom of Church Street.

It will turn right onto Bury Road, left onto John Street before joining Blackburn Road and continuing on its normal route.

Higher Deardengate will become one way from Pleasant Street, north up Higher Deardengate, with vehicles exiting onto Bury Road via Bank Street.

Double yellow lines will be extended to maintain safe exit onto Bury Road.

The following map shows the direction of traffic on Higher Deardengate, Pleasant Street, Hindle Street & Bank Street.

Vehicles will be able to enter and exit Pleasant Street as normal.

The traffic lights on Manchester/Blackburn Road will be amended to take into account fewer vehicles exiting Higher Deardengate at this end.

The footways along Higher Deardengate will be widened, making it safer for pedestrians.

The footways will also fall towards the road to improve drainage away from businesses.

The cycle route is also included in the project, with cyclists able to travel on the existing route north up Higher Deardengate.

The south bound cycle route will be via Bell Street.

The north end of Higher Deardengate will become a pedestrian only (with access) town centre square.

There will be new seating, lighting, artwork and planting to create an attractive, welcoming space with a focus on being able to host events and activities.

Parking on Higher Deardengate will be allowed

There will be restrictions proposed for Mon-Sat 8am-6pm two hours maximum - with no return within two hours.

Loading on Higher Deardengate will be allowed with restrictions proposed for Mon-Sat 6am-8am and 6pm-8pm.

John Street will also have changes which include the R1 bus route.

There will be some widening of the pavement at the junction with Regent Street – to allow for the safe turning of the bus.

A one-way system south from Regent Street to Union Street.

Union Street will allow two-way traffic and will be re-lined accordingly.

Double yellow lines will be extended but parking will be retained on the west side of John Street.

Across the areas affected there will be changes to traffic signs, road markings and parking restrictions – if you have any questions, please contact haslingden2040@rossendalebc.gov.uk

RBC Officers will be at Haslingden Market, every Friday from 12pm till 1pm to talk through the plans.

Information boards will be placed in Haslingden Library & Haslingden Community Link.