Ground investigations start on major Macc scheme

A MAJOR scheme to revitalise Macclesfield town centre will take a step forward as ground investigations are carried out on the proposed site at Churchill Way car park.

Boreholes and trial pits will be undertaken by developer Ask Real Estate later this month with Macclesfield Council pledging to take measures to minimise the disruption to the operation of the car park.

The move follows agreement by Cheshire East Council to sell the car park site to Ask to deliver a high-quality leisure-led scheme to spearhead the regeneration of the town centre.

The outline proposals envisage a six-screen cinema, restaurants, a retail unit and a café pod, designed around an area of quality public realm.

Cllr Don Stockton, Cheshire East cabinet member in charge of regeneration, said:  “It is excellent to see this project continuing to take significant steps forward towards delivering on our promise to the people of Macclesfield.

“We have said that we will regenerate the town and increase footfall for the benefit of retailers and businesses and this is another key stage of that process.”

The development will be subject to the normal planning process, which will start once contracts are formally exchanged.

Some car parking capacity will be lost but research has shown that there is sufficient capacity in the town centre to meet current requirements, although the council says it will continue to monitor this.

Cllr Ainsley Arnold, cabinet member for housing and planning, who is also a local Macclesfield ward member and has been working closely with the regeneration team on projects within the town, said: “I am delighted that progress is being made towards delivering a scheme with the potential to significantly enhance the town centre offer.”

The council is already pursuing a number of other regeneration initiatives in Macclesfield town centre.

Capital funding of £1m has been earmarked for enhancing the public realm, improvements have already been delivered to the Gas Road underpass area, Middlewood Way and Sparrow Park.

A further shop-front grant scheme, this time for properties around the south end of Mill Street, will be launched shortly.