CHESHIRE West and Chester Council has lost out on £255,000 in business rates from unoccupied units in Weaver Square in 2017.

A Freedom of Information request by the Guardian revealed that since October 2016, the council has incurred costs of £308,112 in relation to empty units.

The majority, £255,095, comes from business rates the council has lost out on a result of the unoccupied units. Other costs include fees relating to electricity, insurance and service charges.

Cheshire West and Chester Council bought the lease to the deteriorating shopping centre in 2014, with the intention of redeveloping it.

Cllr Brian Clarke said: “The council acquired Weaver Square Shopping Centre from a landlord who made no investment in it for many years.

"The council’s commitment reduced uncertainty about its future and gives us greater control over the long-term prospects for Northwich.

“The alternative of not investing would have meant that Northwich stagnated, and the opportunity to address some of the long-standing problems of the town centre would not have been possible.

"Our intention was always to work with the community to find out what residents want from their town.”

Cllr Clarke said the council is developing a masterplan for Weaver Square, which could be made public by early next year.

“Barons Quay and Weaver Square Shopping Centre are part of the council’s wider ambition to re-model Northwich town centre to provide retail, leisure and cultural opportunities for its growing population,” Cllr Clarke said.

In June, a planning application was submitted to bulldoze the former council offices to make way for 70 flats for the over-55s.

Cllr Clarke said the money the council would earn if this went ahead would help kick-start the development of Weaver Square.

Northwich town councillor Andrew Cooper is one of the councillors shown the draft masterplan.

He said: “The plans shown to councillors so far look interesting, and I look forward to seeing what residents make of it when they are consulted on as a whole.

"Inevitably, a regeneration programme like this takes longer to deliver than anyone would like, particularly with the public finances the way they are, and with the levels of uncertainty around.

“The sale of the old social services office should help here, as this will release some capital to kick-start things.”

Northwich town councillor Brian Jamieson said ‘high’ business rates is one of the reasons for Weaver Square’s decline.

He said: “Weaver Square has been dying on its feet for a long time because the business rates are too high.

"The business rates in Northwich are too high.

“Businesses could do with some relief. We have lost a few businesses because of that.”

Cllr Clarke added: “One thing I am certain about – Cheshire West and Chester Council are fully committed to the redevelopment of Northwich.”