Approval sought to progress Macc projects

Cheshire East’s cabinet will next week be asked to approve the appointment of contractors for improvements at Macclesfield Leisure Centre and for public realm in the town centre’s Castle Street.

The improvement of Macclesfield’s town centre offer has long been a priority, with mixed fortunes over the course of this year – a food hall is to be developed by Market Operations at the Picturedrome, but Ask has now pulled out of the prosed cinema and restaurants peoject in Churchill Way.

A total of £1.4m has been earmarked in the development and regeneration capital budget for the public realm scheme. Pre-construction design work has now been completed and approval secured from the portfolio holder for housing, planning and regeneration.

Widened footpaths, better quality materials, a different approach to street furniture, some provision for tree planting and an element of engraved text or public art are to be part of the project.

Part of the Churchill Way car park, covering around 60 parking spaces, will be closed to accommodate a site compound for the duration of the project.

A contract worth £1.5m will be awarded for the leisure centre project through the Northwest Construction Hub framework, should cabinet approval be secured.

In total, £4m has been made available by the council for works at the leisure centre, where improvements to the gym facilities are already on site. This £1.5m element covers the customer-facing parts of the centre, including the swimming change facilities, fitness studios, spa and reception area. This is the largest part of the £4m allocated, with £1.15m set aside for facilities management maintenance, to be procured through the council’s existing FM contract.