Heywood Civic Centre

The completion of the Civic Centre marks a significant step forward in the continued regeneration of Heywood town centre. Originally opened in the 1960s, the much-loved civic venue has undergone a comprehensive £5.5m transformation to create a modern, flexible and fully accessible 500-seat multi-purpose event space, complemented by a welcoming new community café. The refurbishment both celebrates the building’s heritage and repositions it at the heart of the community, ready to support an expanded programme of performances, exhibitions and events.

More than a simple modernisation, the project has focused on creating a vibrant and inclusive destination that encourages social connection and creative participation. The renewed Civic Centre provides an adaptable platform for arts and culture while significantly improving accessibility, ensuring the building can be enjoyed by the whole community.

Sustainability has been central to the redevelopment, and as part of an early decarbonisation strategy, the building has transitioned to a fully electric system, with all previous gas infrastructure removed. The heating and hot water systems are now powered by air source heat pumps, delivering a substantial reduction in operational carbon emissions. Energy assessments and detailed interrogation of the 3D building model demonstrate a projected carbon saving of 55% based on desktop studies. The decarbonisation of the heating and hot water systems alone results in a saving of 55.8 tonnes of CO₂ per year.

With its renewed architectural presence, enhanced environmental performance and expanded cultural capacity, Heywood Civic Centre stands as a powerful symbol of place-focused regeneration.