Northwich readies for 34-acre regeneration
Cheshire West and Chester Council is expected to approve a development framework for the town at its cabinet meeting next Wednesday.
The Northwich Town Centre Development Framework intends to guide the future regeneration of the town centre and the introduction of a live-work community as the town itself prepares for an increase in population.
Within the Cheshire West and Chester Local Plan, the town of Northwich is labelled as having a potential for 1,560 new homes to be built. These homes could add an extra 5,000 people thus bringing the town’s population up to nearly 12,500. Within the town centre, around 230 homes are proposed.
Drawn up by Planit-IE, the Northwich Town Centre Development Framework earmarks 13 key project and opportunity sites for future development within the town centre.
The largest of these plots is Barons Quay at the edge of the River Weaver. The vision for the area includes a new riverside walkway and recreational spaces, while a modern health facility and flexible office space are proposed for the vacant waterside units.
Proposals also seek to re-purpose heritage buildings to support the cultural and civic offer in Northwich, with the town’s library to be repurposed as a community hub.
Weaver Square is another key area recognised for improvements in the framework, with the creation of a new residential-led development anchored by open space outlined. The square remains mostly vacant since it lost its market due to a fire in 2020, “creating unattractive streets”, according to the document.
Market Street and Lower Witton Street are both earmarked for public realm improvements to encourage town centre connections and to provide an al fresco offer for businesses.
Other sites primed for redevelopment are Winnington Hill, Tabley Street, London Road, Victoria Bridge, Leicester Street Old Depot, Victoria Infirmary, British Waterways, and the Old Dairy site.
CWAC appointed Planit-IE, along with Civic Engineers, as partners on the development framework last August.
A lot of mancunians are moving to Northwich, it’s buzzing
By Cal
Another white elephant like Baron’s Quay!
By Anonymous
Flooding at the lower end of Witton Street, Northwich. How is that addressed in the proposal?
By Richard Evans
How about filling in the potholes properly, how about retaining park rangers instead of making them redundant, how about asking the public how they want their money spent. I ask for a new gate for disabled access to local woods and there’s a funding issue.
By Anonymous
What are these people thinking of , they can’t even HALF fill the existing empty offices on Chesterway or the private development at Watling street . What a waste of Printing Ink .
By James mather.
Weaver square needs demolishing along with the indoor market. No amount of regeneration can save those ugly eyesores. All the buildings fr the salty dog to and including mcdonald’s need to be demolished to open up the high Street up to the river, Northwichs best asset (the riverside) should play an integral part in any regeneration scheme. Just imagine bars restaurants and shops all lining up FACING the river.
By Justaguy
That’s great, but we also need a bingo, and a bolling alley, we don’t have any where to take kids a game of bowling, and be great to have a bingo Hall. Thanks again Julia
By Julia
The council have already destroyed the heart of Northwich making it a soulless place. Are they now going to exacerbate the situation?
By Anonymous
Another plan which will take years of empty spaces. Bring back the library to where is belongs and make it a hub as well. Lower the rates and then we may fill Baron Quay.
By Anon
For goodness sake look at the Victorian bridges infra structure roads etc before more houses
By Anonymous
Waste of public money ,when the roads around here aren’t fit to drive on and there is already to many people living in Northwich having to commute to work causing traffic problems etc.Another stupid idea from this useless council.
By Anonymous
There is so much wrong with this article. Where did the 1,560 homes figure come from? Complete nonsense.
By Anonymous
Hi Anonymous – thanks for reaching out. I’ve edited the story and clarified the 1,560 homes figure. That is a figure for new homes in the entire town, not just the town centre, and can be found on page 24 of the framework document linked in the story. I agree its inclusion was confusing and we will work harder to ensure that our stories as clear going forward. Please do reach out if there are further issues with this story. I’m at julia@placenorthwest.co.uk
By Julia Hatmaker
Believe it when u see it!
By Anonymous