Fresh images of Capital&Centric’s Crewe vision
The developer is working up plans to build around 500 homes as part of a wider effort to regenerate the Cheshire town.
Place North West has come into possession of new images indicating how Capital&Centric’s plans for three sites in Crewe could unfold.
The visuals, confirmed to have been prepared by architect BDP, show a range of housing types in buildings up to six storeys on the undeveloped part of the Royal Arcade site, Chester Street Car Park, and Delamere Street Car Park.
Last year, Cheshire East Council confirmed it had partnered with Capital&Centric on the developer’s first foray. The developer updated local businesses on how the plans for the town centre are shaping up at a recent event organised by the South Cheshire Chamber of Commerce.
Capital&Centric development director Mark Edwards used his keynote speech to unveil the first images of the firm’s Crewe vision and run attendees through its other town centre regeneration schemes.
Once the partnership between the developer and the council is agreed, the former intends to undertake a consultation process to gather views on its proposals.
The event was attended by Cheshire East Council’s deputy leader Cllr Michael Gorman, who reiterated the council’s desire to regenerate Crewe and turn it into the “best small city in Europe”.
- Credit: BDP
- Credit: BDP
Crewe’s Royal Arcade site has been the subject of several regeneration false dawns.
Before the 2008 recession, Brendan Flood’s Modus had been working up plans for a retail-led scheme called Delamere Place.
The council bought the site for £6m in 2015 and forged ahead with plans for a multi-storey car park and new bus station, which have both been delivered.
Phase two was for a leisure project featuring an eight-screen Empire cinema, five leisure units, five retail units, a bowling alley, and 13,000 sq ft gym to the town centre. The plans was ultimately scrapped when it became unviable.
Crewe suffered a blow back in 2023 when the Conservative government scrapped plans for HS2 north of Birmingham, which was planned to pass through Crewe.
Capital&Centric and the council were approached for comment.
Cec need take a look at the regeneration in Bury town center,Apartments above well known shops and not second hand or vape.
By Col
Sadly, if Cheshire East are involved, this will never happen.
By Alan Emery
Crewes identity was badly dented when the iconic clock tower was removed from the town centre
By Anonymous
When are C&C going to complete the Littlewoods building – they have done nothing for years
By Steve
I like Capital and Centric’s other projects in Stoke and Manchester, as a shop keeper of 12 years in Crewe we desperately need to see something like this happen
By Sarah
This is an ugly and unimaginative scheme. Cheshire East is well practised in the art of ruining towns, etc., by accepting carte blanche projects.
By MR JOHN DAVID BLACKHURST
It’s the last thing Crewe wants in the so called town centre. What’s point of housing with no parking and nowhere to shop. Pity those making these decisions don’t live in Crewe
By Anonymous
looks like a proper bit of placemaking – good job!
By Anonymous
Another pie in the sky project from cheshire east. Back in 1973, the then crewe and nantwich council put forward re developement plans for the town which came to nothing. In th the following 50 plus years, various councils have managed to demolish most of the town centre and give us an overpriced underused multi storey car park, something for which there was no call. Time that you stopped giving us empty promises and give us what we need i.e decent shops in thw town centre, not town centre housing, also improved leisure facilities. I know that you will take no notice of my comments, as a council you do not listen to the crewe residents as you prefer to improve places like macclesfield, congleton etc.
By W McMullen
I really like the look of this scheme. Providing more sustainable housing, which reduces the reliance on own vehicles, unlike the out of town housing estates. We have to think of the future.
By Anonymous
Shops not houses in a town centre. Another bad (and costly) decision by CEC.
By Leslie
Not sure why people think if you build shops, the retailers will come. We’re hurtling towards the mid 21st century and some people still haven’t noticed what retail parks and the internet have changed since the late 20th century. I may agree that this is a regrettable state of affairs, but you’re not going to bring big retailers back in now. Smaller, niche stuff has a place but ‘anchor tenants’ for somewhere like Crewe are done.
One of Crewe’s other problems is the thing it was famous for. That railway station is too far from the town centre. Anonymous dormitory town now, in essence.
By Retail Rob
The proposal looks great for Crewe! 500 homes in a sustainable location – close to the new bus station, with the family homes on Chester Street and Delamere Street incorporating private car parking.
Within the flats, it appears new commercial units within the former Royal Arcade site at ground floor, as well as incorporating the former M&S unit. This will bring active frontages to the town centre and widen the town centre offering.
The flats above give a natural footfall with comings/goings every day, and allow young people the opportunity to leave their parents home whilst staying in the town they grew up in.
Consultation later in the year, and still a while off, but a residential-led redevelopment whilst enhancing the town centre’s commercial offering is what’s required to enhance the regeneration efforts of the town centre and improve the vitality of the town.
By Anonymous
We need shops in the town centre not housing. Typical cheshire East. Who wants to visit a shopping centre when all it has got is a bus station and a multi storey carpark. Dont even have a decent market anymore
By Anonymous
Good to see the residents of Crewe are happy to underwrite all development costs given C&C are just development managers and not equity risking developers or investors. So the Council will pick up the tab for everything. How can they get this to work when it doesn’t work in other areas with much higher values
By Anonymous
Like it. Housing on brown sites. Would be nice if there was a good scattering of independant shops, cafes and bars. There will never be a town centre like there used to be…retail parks, large supermarkets that sell food and everything else you need, and internet shopping have ended the town centre and high street.
By Col D
Some of the comments on here show just how clueless the average person is. Why on earth would they propose a load of new shops when there are already so many vacant ones in town? Next, you’ll be asking for an M&S and banks to be brought back. The world – and retail in particular – has moved on, I’m afraid. Lots more dwellings required in town centres like Crewe, with some small, independent shops at ground level. More footfall = a more sustainable town centre for all.
The scheme looks decent. I wouldn’t mind a bit more height for one of the buildings to provide a bit of a flagship. Maybe 10 storeys?
By Anonymous
I have lived in crewe all my life enjoyed the town centre with its pubs and shops, now we have absolutely NOTHING in the town to enjoy a multi storey car park that is not required no pubs ,no social environment what so ever ot is a complete joke. The council should be ashamed and discredited.
By M Patrick
How many times do I have to say this!? When the plans for HS2 North, was scrapped in 2023. CEC were Bankrupt!
But.. the contract for the multi storey carpark, was signed, sealed and paid for…. So they had no choice to have it BUILT! The idea was that all the remaining car parks would be BUILT on. Until THE GOVERNMENT, refund CEC the money that we gave them towards the building of the HS2 North railway line,
THEY are broke!!!!!!!! Got it????
By Jane Wheatley
Why would anyone want ANOTHER bowling alley AND another cinema….why carnt we have something different to attract people makes sense to me…no wonder it failed
By Anonymous
I went to Crewe on Monday and couldn’t believe how sad it looked with so many shops boarded up. But had no trouble in parking in Asda’s carpark ,to do my food shop ,though I had to pay. Very quiet. Then I went to the Retail park and it was heaving ! Had a job to find a parking space ( Free ) All shops very busy. People still like shopping !! Town planners too busy spending on legacy projects to make themselves look good – but use OUR money ! Try reducing shop rents in the town centre ,free car parking and a market. People will be back.
By Anonymous
Can we rename the car park Schrodinger’s Car Park? One comment saying this is proposing housing in a place with no parking, another saying the car park is underused. Hope this scheme gets off the ground.
By Jonty
Given how online shopping has changed consumer behaviour, a mixed use development of residential, retail, commercial & public spaces is the only viable option which works very well in towns & cities across Europe.
Whilst I support the layout & design in principle a nod to the demolished clock tower & its elevations, proportions, albeit a scaled back version could act as a flagship building as per the previous comments & create an interesting skyline as oppose to a flat monotonous top which is so evident in so many new build developments!
Any development of the M&S building which looks to be part of the plan, needs to be done sympathetically & its original character preserved given how much architecture & history has been lost in Crewe, the Woolworths building & the loss of its 100 year old ‘Art Deco’ facade a recent sad example !
Any additions need to be respectful of the original building without destroying its character.
By Wils