Little Hulton Big Local

Budget

£950k

Peel Park is reimagined as a community hub, combining CommUNITY Little Hulton’s needs with public amenities. Charity clients often face the challenge of securing long-term impact while making the most of present resources. Little Hulton Big Local (LHBL), one of 150 Big Local trusts, was allocated £1 million to improve the lives of local residents. Over the past five years, LHBL has focused on supporting young adults who are Not in Education, Employment, or Training (NEET), as well as children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Rooted in community engagement, the project establishes a lasting civic hub that supports and shapes the continued development of AU.

CommUNITY Little Hulton has transformed an unloved building within Peel Park, Salford into a mixed-use community space, providing new headquarters for this amazing charity alongside a hub for social, recreational and creative activity, with a community cafe and kitchen.

This award winning WikiHouse Magpie building is built by the local community, with more than 100 volunteers (including around 60 children from The Lowry Academy and St Edmund’s RC School) taking part in the construction.

The Peel Park Community Centre demonstrates how strategic investment in community infrastructure can secure the future of vital local initiatives. It transforms an underused park into a thriving hub, supporting young people, fostering community connections, and creating a lasting positive impact in Little Hulton.

To follow on from receiving the Architect of the Year award at the Structural Timber Awards 2025, we managed to win not one, but two awards at the Manchester Society of Architects Awards 2026. This project scooped both the Community Built award alongside being selected for the Design Innovation award from all 110 entries submitted.

The innovation award was for the unique way the community was involved in this project and is a fitting culmination for the build, but also the journey getting here all the way from the failed Woolpack scheme, via the Scout Hut and through to this wonderful community space and asset. This project holds a special place in the hearts of the AU Team.