Green light for Northwich’s Weaver Square revamp
Cheshire West and Chester Council’s cabinet has opted to move forward with the project, which could see work start in 2026.
The search is now on for a development partner for Weaver Square, as Northwich Market is set to be relocated to currently vacant corner units opposite H&M at Barons Quay.
More than 100 homes could be developed in the heart of the town centre with empty shops and buildings to be repurposed as part of a mixed-use development also including public spaces, and supporting infrastructure.
Services based within the Northwich Information Centre will also be on the move within the town centre before work starts in Weaver Square.
Designs will be drawn up and consultation undertaken with town centre stakeholders ahead of work taking place.
The council says it will set a brief for Weaver Square and work with the chosen partner to secure a high-quality scheme while keeping an ‘element of control’ over the final development.
A modern market would be created to feature an alfresco area, traditional market stalls, and food and drink options.
The cost of the procurement process, relocating the market and information centre, and creating a vacant site is estimated to be £2.6m, according to a report to councillors ahead of their meeting last week.
Although CWAC will look to secure private sector and external funding, from Homes England for example, it is expected that future phases of the project will need council financial support.
The next step is for the authority to select its delivery partner by the spring.
A report will also be produced for cabinet approval in the early summer of next year before the authority enters any pre-development agreement. Relocation of the market could happen around the same time.
You can read the report to the cabinet on the council’s website here.
About time, it’ll be a huge boost for Northwich and provide more jobs for people as well as encourage more footfall. We need to improve Whitton Street as well, Bratts would be ideal as a micro IKEA – someone on the council should be putting out feelers for businesses to come to Northwich.
By Mandy
Cheshire West have a recent history of doing development themselves. It will be interesting to see how they work with a partner.
By William Hesketh
Re Northwich guardian – “Not many! if any Market holders wants to move into Barons quay” why?
its in the wrong place for one! and rents even though they will be probably be subsidised for a few years! then more than likely they would go up!
The existing Northwich markets before the fire have been in the same place for over 150 years
Cheshire west and chester council made one big mistake with the design of barons quay which is still not filled after 8 years and now another big mistake by trying to move an outdoor market into an indoor market!
will they ever learn? probably not! have a updated consultation first and let northwich people decide! not councillors from 20 miles away!
Barons quay should never of been designed the way it is for the town – as its very poor quality design
By Northwich
Have the Council noted that the flats for sale by Victoria Bridge (if they know where that is) are not selling. I think 4 out of 77 have been sold in 4 years. Also the flats at the bottom of Castle Hill by the Weaver are having problems in selling even at the price they were bought for 12 years ago. Northwich was known for good schools and education and training, the loss of Hartford Tec College is a great negative for this area and is proving a loss in the training that it did for practical employment and the requirement that local have for such persons from brick layer, electricians etc. Northwich was the centre for all things from the market, education, commerce and a good shopping town. I dismay on how thing have developed, for example the Brio centre in the design it showed 8 lanes for the swimming pool but only 6 lanes were actually built, but this meant this could not be used for competitions and therefore a great loss to the development of the town , who made this decision to change after the original idea and plan.etc, etc
By Clive Steggel