Baron's Quay plans revealed in detail (From Northwich Guardian)

Baron's Quay plans revealed in detail

8:30am Monday 17th September 2012 in News By Gina Bebbington

DETAILED plans and images showing the massive regeneration of Northwich’s waterfront are being revealed.

A public consultation is being held to guage residents’ thoughts on the Baron’s Quay scheme before a planning application is submitted later this year.

This follows a consultation held in May on the outline plans for the project, which will see a new five-screen cinema, restaurants, cafes, shops and a supermarket built on a 25-acre site alongside the River Weaver.

Catherine Fox, Weaver Valley team leader, said: “Things are moving apace.

“We have responded to what people have said in our other consultations – we’ve introduced a residential element and also included provision for a hotel.

“We have also reduced the size of the food store by between 30 and 40 per cent.”

Parking provision will be on the roof of the food store and will include more than 2,300 spaces, an increase from the current 2,118.

Catherine was keen to emphasise that parking will remain free, although it will be managed.

A 60-bed hotel and 40 residential apartments are included on the upper level above shops in the scheme.

The scheme, put forward by Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC) and the Weaver Valley Partnership, will also feature ‘retail loops’ to lead customers naturally into Witton Street and the town’s ‘heritage core’.

Catherine said: “We have tried to focus on creating a sense of place that will link into the rest of town and make a stronger shopping centre and place people want to visit.”

Architect Matt Brook, from Broadway Malyan, said: “Our ambition is to turn Northwich into a true destination.

“At the moment it’s very much a daytime town and we want to extend the length of time people want to spend in Northwich.

“We’re trying to make the most of assets the town has – it has a fantastic set of assets that most towns would be jealous of, including two rivers and great open space very close to the town centre.”

Talks are still ongoing with supermarkets and cinema operators interesting in being part of Baron’s Quay but an announcement is expected before the end of the year.

Subject to planning consent, site works and construction are expected to begin in 2014 with completion estimated in 2016.

• RESIDENTS can see the scheme and speak to the people behind it at three exhibitions in Baron’s Quay car park this week.
  The first is from noon to 4pm on Thursday, September 20, the second from10am to 4pm on Friday, September 21, and the third from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, September 22.
  Display boards will also be available at Northwich Information Centre and at Northwich Library until October 8.
  Plans are also available online at weavervalley.org.uk.
  This is the final consultation before plans for the scheme are submitted.