Macclesfield vision approved
Cheshire East Council has approved plans for the regeneration of Macclesfield town centre including a new stadium for the football club.
The masterplan by CB Richard Ellis focuses on an area between Congleton Road and London Road as well as the town centre.
The council's Cabinet backed CBRE's recommendations that:
An economic prosperity forum be created to drive forward schemes
Deliver a mixed-use development comprising retail, leisure, housing, a new football stadium and a new link road connecting Congleton Road and London Road via the existing stadium site
Market Square and the Chestergate and the upper part of Mill Street should be reinforced as the heart of the town centre
Development should be in keeping with the character of the town and enhance the areas heritage and conservation assets
The southern portion of the town around Park Green and land to the west of Churchill Way should be the focus for leisure uses, with the central 'retail quarter' focussed on the Churchill Way, Exchange Street and Duke Street car parks, which would include a cinema and neighbouring department store and multi-storey car park
Links between new town centre developments and the railway station, via Sunderland Street, should be enhanced
A clear brand identity should be developed for Macclesfield
Public transport should be improved across the town to reduce congestion.
Meanwhile, Cheshire East Council said it is continuing to work closely with its development partner Wilson Bowden on its revised scheme for the town centre within the context of the masterplan and separate consultation on the revised scheme will take place early next year.
