Initial work to start on Ask’s Macc scheme

Investigatory work on the Churchill Way car park in Macclesfield will take place this month, Cheshire East Council has said, to prepare for a leisure scheme to be delivered by Ask Real Estate.

Works including boreholes and trial pits will be undertaken at the site, with the council taking steps to minimise disruption to car park users. The move follows Cheshire East’s agreement to sell the site to Ask in February this year.

Ask triumphed over 18 other bidders with its plans, designed by FaulknerBrowns Architects, to deliver a leisure scheme, the outline plans of which feature a six-screen cinema, restaurants, a retail unit and a café pod. No timeline has yet been revealed as to the delivery of the project.

Cllr Don Stockton, Cheshire East cabinet member in charge of regeneration, said: “It is excellent to see this project continue to take significant steps forward towards delivering on our promise to the people of Macclesfield.

“We have said that we will regenerate the town and increase footfall for the benefit of retailers and businesses and this is another key stage of that process. The council is fully committed to seeing this exciting regeneration project through towards a successful planning application.”