Haslingden Projects

About the Project:

Q: What is the Big Lamp Project?

A: The Big Lamp Project – Shining Light on Haslingden’s Heritage – is a five-year regeneration initiative (2021 – 2026) funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. It aims to revitalise Haslingden’s historic town centre, celebrate its heritage, and create a more vibrant, accessible, and welcoming environment for residents, businesses, and visitors.

Q: Why is this project happening?

A: Haslingden’s town centre has experienced long-term under-investment and post-industrial decline. The project seeks to restore its historic character, improve public spaces, support local businesses, and increase community use and pride in the area.

Q: What are the main project outcomes?

A: Creation of a new town square for community events, markets, and festivals, refurbishment of the iconic Big Lamp as a landmark heritage feature, wider pavements and improved pedestrian routes for safety and accessibility, greening the high street through trees, planting, and sustainable drainage, cycling infrastructure and improved traffic management, better lighting, seating, and artwork to enhance the town’s character, support for local businesses and increased visitor footfall.

Deardengate Square:

Q: What will Deardengate Square look like?

A: Located at the top end of Deardengate, the new square will serve as Haslingden’s main public space – beautiful, functional, and flexible enough to host regular community events. The Square will also be a place for people to socialise and relax whether on their lunch break or shopping in town. 

Q: What’s happening to the Big Lamp?

A: The Big Lamp is being repositioned slightly to make way for new street trees and planting beds. It will sit on a new stone plinth, giving it greater presence and heritage value, as well as doubling as a seating feature.

Q: Will the cobbles be kept?

A: Yes. Existing cobbles will be lifted, levelled, and reused across the events square and pedestrian crossings.

Q: How will the area be greener?

A: A large feature tree will be planted at the centre of the square, complemented by smaller trees, with ornamental flower beds and sustainable ‘raingardens’ to enhance the space.

Raingardens are where:

• Rainwater flows into the garden.
• The plants and soil absorb the water.
• The water slowly filters into the ground instead of running off.

Higher Deardengate:

Q: Will there still be parking after the works are completed?

A: Yes. Parking is being maintained. A loading bay is also being added near Bank Street for deliveries. New signage and maps will be installed in the town centre car park.

Q: How will traffic and parking be managed?

A: A new Traffic Regulation Order will prevent random parking by only allowing stopping in marked bays.

Q: What are the plans for the remainder of Higher Deardengate?

A: The area will shift from being vehicle-dominated to a pedestrian-friendly environment. Footpaths will be widened, new crossing points added, attractive planting and lighting will also be introduced.

Q: How will Haslingden Library be highlighted?

A: The library’s heritage will be celebrated with a green pocket space, uplighting at night, and generous planting to improve the pedestrian experience and visibility of the building.

Q: What about lighting and alleyways?

A: Lighting columns will illuminate alleyways, with gobos (a stencil which light is shone through to create patterns on the walls) and shade-tolerant planting will bring greenery and safety to these routes.

Q: What’s changing for traffic?

A: Deardengate will become one-way (south to north). The layout has been tested to ensure businesses can still receive deliveries and also for the layout to allow for the safe manoeuvrability of the R1 bus.

Construction and Timelines

Q: When will Deardengate reopen?

A: The works to Higher Deardengate are the top priority, and the aim is to re-open the section from Pleasant Street to Hindle Street, before Christmas 2025. Works to re-open the remainder of Higher Deardengate, the nature alleyways and John Street will continue into early 2026.

Q: What’s happening right now?

A: Drainage works and gully connections are being excavated, sub-base and base course laid in the new event square area, the foundations for the Big Lamp plinth and public artwork have been installed, new street lighting ducts installed, bioretention soil placed the rain gardens for sustainable drainage, ornamental planting areas prepared, kerb lines have been installed and the main carriageway has been relaid and the footpaths are currently being taken up, and relaid..

Q: Will businesses stay open?

A: Yes – all businesses remain open as usual. Pedestrian access will be maintained wherever possible.

Q: What should I do if my business is affected by the works?

A: You may qualify for a temporary business rates reduction if your premises are impacted by severe local disruption. Visit https://www.gov.uk/introduction-to-business-rates/if-your-business-or-premises-change-or-cant-be-used  or contact the Economic Development team at 01706 252401.

Safety and Access

Q: What safety measures are in place during construction?

A: Secure Heras fencing replaces temporary barriers, clearly marked footpath diversions are in place, some footpaths become closed when a utility company requires access for any urgent works, but the closure is temporary, and lifted as soon as possible.

Q: How can I access local businesses during closures?

A: To reach Post Office and east-side businesses, use the car parks on Hindle Street or Dale Street, to reach west-side businesses (e.g., Mannings, Unscripted), park at John Street or Co-op car parks and walk via Radcliffe Fold.

Q: How can I donate to charity shops on Deardengate during the works?

A: All of the charity shops have back door access on Radcliffe Fold and prefer this method for dropping off donations.

Traffic and Parking Changes

Q: How will traffic flow after the works?

• A: Higher Deardengate will be one-way northbound from Pleasant Street to Bury Road.
• The R1 bus will follow a new route up Higher Deardengate, along Bank Street, and onto Bury Road.
• Double yellow lines will be extended at the junction of Bank Street and Bury Road for safety.
• Parking will be available for two hours max (Mon–Sat, 8am–6pm) with loading allowed at designated times.

Q: What about John Street?

A: Works start early 2026, including pavement widening at its junction with Regent Street, new signage, bus stop improvements, and a new one-way system (southbound from Regent Street to Union Street).