Halton appoints design team for Runcorn regeneration
A design team including architect We Made That has been chosen to produce a masterplan which could see Runcorn’s railway station transformed into a multi-modal transport hub.
Halton Council has picked We Made That to lead the consortium, which is also made up of ecomic consultant Regeneris; transport firm Steer Davies Gleave; and property and viability consultancy PRD.
The team has been tasked with preparing a masterplan for the area around the town’s station, which the council said had the potential to become “a multi-modal transport hub” with better connections to the town centre.
Dubbed the Station Quarter, the council has already said it would set aside resources to remove existing road infrastructure to improve the area and its connectivity.
These include some of the station’s old bridge approaches which are no longer used, as well as the ‘trumpet loop’ which currently blocks the station off from the surrounding area.
The reopening of the Halton Curve and improvements to the West Coast Mainline are expected to act as a catalyst for further passenger journeys to and from Runcorn, and the council hopes to attract additional investment as a result.
Other areas to be examined by the masterplan include local housing, employment, demographics, and the area’s businesses.
A council spokesperson confirmed Halton was now looking for partners to help provide a “transformational” development for the area.
“The Council is committed to the regeneration of the Runcorn old town area. Runcorn’s mainline station is an important asset for Halton, providing fast, frequent services to London and Birmingham, and it is a popular and convenient commuter station into Liverpool.”
Hannah Martin, associate at We Made That, said: “Runcorn is an important area of the Liverpool City Region. The re-routing of traffic over the Mersey Gateway Bridge offers positive impacts in environmental terms – opening up a sustainable transport corridor and development sites. This masterplan will be instrumental in capitalising on the potential benefits to residents and businesses in Runcorn.”
How can you call it a city region with a straight face when it is divided by tolls? Just saying.
By Sheri
The development looks good it’s just a shame that Runcorn is being strangled by an unfair toll in one of the most deprived areas of the country. It is running down the old town even worse than ever and station quarter or not that’s unlikely to improve much.
By Sheri
Rename the station Liverpool Runcorn. Economic gateway to city south.
By LEighteen
Looks exciting!
By Maggi
Not been to Runcorn since the toll road came into effect. Live in widnes but in the past went to Runcorn hills with the kids, we now head towards liverpool parks and drive though Warrington to get to Walton gardens.
By Anonymous
The tolls need to be removed, or all your planning will be mostly a waste of money !!
Runcorn is out on a limb, the tolls need to go !!
By Paul W
So is Widnes a Liverpool city region as it’s nearer to Liverpool than Runcorn? Improvements have been promised for years……..I won’t hold my breath.
By Bob C
Excellent news ! Just spare a thought for folk living in the vicinity though eh…
By George Mcdonald
I am totally fed up with the constant association with Liverpool. I like many others in Runcorn dislike the reference to Runcorn Old Town. We were a town in our own right before the bolt on of the new town which in my opinion turned the town into a hub of crime and put some areas in the category of no go zones. I am proud to be a Runcornian, we are not and never will be plastic scousers !!!
By Ken
Help if we had shops. Towns full of kebab houses and rundown pubs
By Frank