Silk Street setback for Macclesfield

DEPARTMENT store retailer Debenhams has dealt a blow to a £80m regeneration scheme in Macclesfield.

Debenhams was to have been one of the anchor tenants of the 200,000sq ft Silk Street Wilson Bowden development in the town.

According to the local authority, Cheshire East Council, the other key anchor, cinema operator Cineworld, remains committed to the project.

The council has responded to the setback with a £500,000 additional funding to hopefully speed up the development of new leisure attractions there.

Councillor Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “The decision by Debenhams comes as no surprise.

“It is clear that the leisure elements of the scheme have always received overwhelming support. I have asked my officers to review our position with Wilson Bowden while we focus on these elements of the Silk Street scheme, which we hope now to deliver sooner than originally envisaged.

“Importantly, Cineworld has confirmed that it remains committed to investing in Macclesfield. To make this happen, I will be adding more resource to our regeneration team in Macclesfield, with a new director of projects and a design board made up of local stakeholders, whose role will be to ensure that the developments sits well with the vision for the town’s future.

“Cheshire East Council is also doubling its own financial commitment to £1m of capital funding and we will be making development finance available, if necessary, to deliver the leisure elements of the scheme.”

Silk Street received planning permission in June 2013 and was due to be anchored by Debenhams and Cineworld. It features 19 other retail units, a 718-space multi-storey car park and public square.

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