Leisure scheme will drive Macclesfield regeneration
A NEW leisure-led scheme is set to spearhead the regeneration of Macclesfield town centre.
Cheshire East Council will offer two alternative sites for sale to see what options the market can deliver for development with leisure facilities at its heart.
The potential sites are the Duke Street car park and the Churchill Way car park.
Early feedback from the recently-created Macclesfield Town Centre Vision Stakeholder Panel, set up to enable diverse local input into plans for the town, indicates there will be local support for this decision as well as for the principle of a sympathetic leisure-led scheme.
The move to secure development ‘as rapidly as practicable’, which will be put to a meeting of Cabinet to endorse on June 30, follows the ending of the Silk Street development agreement with Wilson Bowden.
The final scheme, however, will be decided after further consultation with local stakeholders to ensure it fits within the wider ‘Macclesfield Vision’.
Cheshire East Council leader Michael Jones, said: “This is a watershed moment for the realisation of a leisure regeneration scheme for Macclesfield town centre and signals a new era.
“As the development agreement with Wilson Bowden has terminated, the council can now actively test the market for interest from other potential developers, who may wish to invest in the town centre utilising some of the land, which has for many years been earmarked for the Silk Street scheme.
“We believe there is a strong market interest in this project, which will be central to delivering a town centre that the people of Macclesfield deserve.
“Potential options will be discussed with the stakeholder panel and key town centre landowners – ensuring an active voice for local people who are passionate about their town, its future success and wellbeing.”
In March commercial property expert Nick Hynes was brought in to lead the new stakeholder panel to shape the way forward and advise the Council.
Its remit includes investigating options for accelerating the delivery of a leisure scheme for the town centre and getting the views of the local community about their ambitions and aspirations for Macclesfield.
Council regeneration specialist Jo Wise has also been appointed as the new project director for Macclesfield town centre, to co-ordinate and drive the revitalisation of the town.
The Council has also committed £1m in capital funding to support projects to refurbish and revitalise the town centre.
The Cabinet meeting (June 30) will also be asked to endorse the termination of the Wilson Bowden development agreement as well as authorise the withdrawal of the compulsory purchase order for the Silk Street scheme.
