Demolition imminent to make way for £48m Royal Arcade
Work on Cheshire East’s retail and leisure project in Crewe is set to begin in summer 2021, with completion due in 2023.
Cheshire East Council bought the site in April 2015 for £6m from Redefine International. In 2017, a joint venture between Peveril Securities, the development subsidiary of contractor Bowmer & Kirkland, and development manager Cordwell Property was appointed as the council’s preferred partner.
The initial plan was for completion of redevelopment by Christmas 2020, but agreeing deals with occupiers to gain vacant possession took longer than planned and has only recently been completed. The development is set to bring an eight-screen Empire cinema, five leisure units, five retail units, a bowling alley, and 13,000 sq ft gym to the town centre.
Hoardings around the site have been erected so the building survey can take place. According to the council, further information, including updated artist’s impressions, will be revealed in the coming weeks. Demolition of the existing centre including clock tower – clock parts will be handed to Crewe Heritage Centre – will begin in early summer.
A Cheshire East spokesperson said: “Hoardings surrounding the Royal Arcade development site have been put up to prepare for building survey works. The hoardings will provide further information about the proposed development.
“Demolition of the former commercial units, located off Queensway and Victoria Street, will begin later this year following satisfactory survey assessments. The site will be developed as part of a mixed-use, leisure-led development, including a state-of-the-art multi screen cinema, bus station, multi-storey car park and retail units.”
Cllr Nick Mannion, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for environment and regeneration, said: “The Royal Arcade scheme is part of Crewe’s wider regeneration strategy.”
Corstorphine + Wright is the architect, and Colliers, Knight Frank and New Street Commercial are the agents.
The hoardings which have been put up to enable building surveys, will feature information on the development in coming weeks
