The Warrington Regeneration Plan is the Warrington Borough Council’s plan for redeveloping the Bridge Street area in the town centre. The £52 million regeneration plan was announced in 2013 and will revitalise an important retail hub for the town. Once complete, the project will create a family-friendly destination for shopping, entertainment and leisure.
About the Plan
Announced in October 2013, the Bridge Street regeneration plan will revitalise the traditional retail heart of the town centre. The plan for Bridge Street will include the development of a new multiplex cinema and a new civic centre, which will be the home of civic offices. One of the key components of the project will be the development of a contemporary market hall on Bridge Street. The new market will be built on the site of the former Boots building. The project will keep the Grade II listed building and maintain the existing heritage façade as the market’s entrance.
Planning permission for the project was submitted in August 2014 following a period of formal public consultation in June 2014. The Bridge Street regeneration project is being delivered in two phases to minimise disruption. The first phase will include the construction of a new building on the site of Time Square, which will be used as a temporary home of the market. The market will be located in its temporary home for two years while the former hall is demolished and the new building is built on Bridge Street.
The project also complements work underway on Lower Bridge Street. Landscaping and environmental improvements to enhance the appearance of Lower Bridge Street was completed in late 2013. The project included an investment of £400,000.
Project Partners
The project is part of Warrington Means Business, a framework for growth developed by the Warrington Borough Council. The main role is to guide and monitor the implementation of the town’s regeneration framework. TheRegeneration Framework for Warrington was released in 2009 and is designed to develop Warrington into one of the best places to live and work in the UK by 2030. The Bridge Street regeneration plan is one of the components of the plan. Other components include the regeneration of Golden Square, the Cockhedge Quarter, the Warrington Waterfront and the Palmyra Quarter.
The framework is designed to help the Council consult with partners and stakeholders, help raise Warrington’s profile in discussions with the UK government and other agencies and partners, to focus discussions with those who can deliver the strategy including developers and investors, and to influence neighbourhood management and plans. The framework also focuses activities related to regeneration, as well as influences the delivery of Warrington’s community strategy, Local Area Agreement, the council’s corporate plan and the preparation of the town’s Local Development Framework. It also helps focus and coordinate the regeneration activities of the Council and its partners.
The Bridge Street regeneration plan is managed by Warrington & Co., a partnership between the Council, business leaders and other key organisations. Warrington & Co. is responsible for delivering urban regeneration strategies and facilitating growth for the community. Muse Developments is the developer for the project.
Location
The regeneration plan involves a 3.4 hectare or 8.4 acre site that extends from Bridge Street and across the Time Square development. It includes the site of Warrington’s existing market. The area links the town centre with the waterfront. The proposed redevelopment of the Warrington Waterfront will include the creation of a new riverfront quarter with potentially a convention and exhibition centre, residential areas, hotels and offices along with riverfront promenades. Improvements to the Warrington Bridge will be part of the waterfront redevelopment.
Other developments related to the town’s Regeneration Framework are also located in the town centre, including the revitalisation of Golden Square into a premier shopping destination. The Cockhedge Quarter redevelopment will link the quarter with the main town with commercial and residential development. The regeneration of the Palmyra Quarter will enhance the area as a cultural hub and Warrington’s historic district. The plan will be centred around the Pyramid, the refurbishment of Parr Hall, and an improved central library and museum. New residential and commercial development will help link the quarter with the Bank Quay station, the waterfront and the town centre. As of August 2014, plans for these areas have not yet been released by the Council.
Economic Impact
The Bridge Street regeneration plan will create up to 400 construction jobs as part of a phased site development over five years, beginning in Autumn 2014. By the time the project is expected to be completed in 2018, it will have resulted in the creation of up to 400 new, permanent jobs in a range of sectors, including in retail, restaurant and leisure businesses. According to the Warrington Borough Counci, is estimated that Regeneration Framework will require an investment of approximately £3.5 billion to achieve its objectives.
Resources
Additional information about Warrington’s Bridge Street regeneration plan is available at www.warrington.gov.uk/bridgestreet. To find out more about Warrington & Co. and related projects, visit www.warringtonandco.com.
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