Muse wins remit for Warrington town centre scheme

SALFORD Quays-based developer Muse has been appointed by Warrington Borough Council as its partner for the  £130m Bridge Street mixed development project.

The scheme marks the first phase of a 25-year masterplan to regenerate Warrington’s town centre.

It involves the transformation of a six-acre site incorporating Warrington’s market and the Time Square shopping centre, which was bought with the support of a £6.2m grant from the NWDA two years ago.

A mixed-use scheme is now planned for the site that will include new shops, restaurants, a gym, cinema, foodstore, indoor market, hotel, council offices and a cultural centre. The first phase will involve the construction of a new market, shops and restaurants.

Warrington council leader Cllr Terry O’Neil said: “These are exciting times for Warrington. This scheme will completely transform the town centre; bringing new jobs to the local area and providing the entertainment and leisure facilities that are currently missing but needed.  

“Warrington Borough Council wants to give the town centre a new heart and focus and we feel these plans will make it a more attractive place for residents to live and work in.”  

Darran Lawless, development director at Muse, said: “The announcement is fantastic news and a huge endorsement for Muse and its team of consultants.  
“We have always believed that this development would be a great opportunity to work on a genuine mixed use regeneration scheme which will not only change Warrington but help its people enjoy a much wider range of facilities.”

A consultation exercise on plans for the site is likely to be held next year ahead of the submission of a formal planning application for the scheme. Work is currently expected to start on site in 2013.