Winsford town centre draft masterplan revealed
Cheshire West and Chester Council has teamed up with Avison Young to craft plans to transform part of the Winsford Cross Shopping Centre site.
Divided into two phases, the first focuses on 4.7 acres to the northwest of the shopping centre. The second phase is dedicated to the shopping centre itself.
Only plans for the first phase have been released. They were developed after several public consultations asking residents what they wanted from the area.
Much of the feedback surrounded the desire for more restaurants, improved parking and space for socialising and community events.
Accordingly, the draft plans include a series of new retail and restaurant units, a coffee shop and a car park with a total of 193 spaces.
Of those 193, 16 would be for electric vehicle charging. There would also be 13 disabled spaces and six parent and child spaces.
The new food and beverage units would be situated along a new boulevard towards the west of the site, while the retail spots would be towards the southern end of the scheme. On the northeast corner, where Dene Drive and the A54 intersect, would sit the new coffeeshop.
The largest retail unit would be placed on the current Fountain Court area and act as an anchor for the space. The two grade-listed monuments at Fountain Court, the Cenotaph and the Boer War Memorial, would be relocated to a newly created civic space in the town.
Winsford draft plans also include a creative and community to go near the current library and improved public spaces. The proposals include rainwater gardens and the planting of trees.
Connectivity is factored into the plans as well, with the scheme being oriented so that it will run north to south. That will enable those at the development to connect easier to the subway under the A54.
Aerial view of the masterplan proposals. Credit: via CWAC
The community can share its thoughts on the draft plans through 10 October. A formal planning application will be submitted later this autumn. If the application is approved, construction would begin in spring 2022.
CWAC purchased the Winsford Cross Shopping Centre in 2018, to have more control over the town centre’s future.
Funds for the regeneration project come from the nearly £10m the council gathered from the government’s Future High Street Fund. The council also contributed £11m of its own funds to the endeavour.
The masterplan team includes architecture and building consultancy AHR and landscape architect Gillespies.
Learn more about the proposals at the project’s consultation website.
Great news for Winsford. Exciting times ahead.
By OverTheBorder
Looks really desperate, like we forgot everything we know about urbanism, place making and active travel.
By Rich X
How can this be labelled a “town centre” when it’s 75% car parking. More of a retail park, no? Hugely depressing – not somewhere people will want to spend extended amount of time in.
By Anonymous
A HUGE car park and a coffee shop. I despair.
By Alan
Masterplan…. more like a car park with another drive thru
By Honey Badger
Just a big car park but that’s all we’re going to get. No one is listening… and there’s bound to be more housing somewhere. You have to look at Over Square where something is evolving that people want – namely interesting small shops, small bars etc. That will develop in spite of CWACs new so called shopping centre and waste of millions of pounds. It is depressing that we have waited so long and we’re going to get so little
By Karen Dean
Have to agree with the majority I’m afraid,what is there in this layout that is so invigorating,and meaningful for the future generations that are being implemented? The town needs a proper vision for the future not a coffee shop with parking for 190odd vehicles and very few charging points for the vehicles that are becoming compulsory
Wake up town council and look to create a purposeful centre that will cater for the people of Winsford today and for the next 20years because that’s period it will have to last as a minimum.
By Richard Maher