Planning Application 12/1212M

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Revised plans have been received on 21st December 2012 for the Silk Street Town Centre Redevelopment. For clarification purposes, the proposals include: -

• Cinema
• 20 shops (including a large department store)
• Restaurants
• Offices
• New town centre square (Mulberry Square)
• Car parking (including multi-storey) and associated works *

Cheshire East Council received a planning application from Wilson Bowden Developments for a proposed development in the town centre in March 2012. Following a lengthy period of consultation during the summer, the developer has revised the plans taking into account the feedback.

Cheshire East Council is keen to understand the views from the many residents, shoppers, office workers etc who live and work in and around Macclesfield to ensure that the Council delivers a scheme which is appropriate and meets the strategic needs of the town in the short and long term.

Town Vision

Although the area of the proposed town centre scheme has been allocated for development for many years, the development of this area is only part of the Council's vision for Macclesfield Town Centre. Macclesfield town centre has many assets and attractions. It has a hugely popular Treacle market, many independent shops, an attractive historic core, dynamic businesses and an affluent catchment population. But, despite these many positives, it is not meeting expectations. The Town Strategy Consultation carried out by Cheshire East Council in 2011, sought views on what people would like to see most improved in Macclesfield. This consultation identified the town centre, shopping facilities and the town's appearance as the three factors which people felt most needed improving. Whilst the town has many unique independents, it lacks the quality brand names which many people want and expect, it has a below average proportion of food and drink outlets, areas of poor quality environment and its leisure offer is lacking – with people wanting to visit a multiplex having to travel to Parrs Wood or Stockport.

The Council, in conjunction with the Make it Macclesfield Forum has developed a vision for Macclesfield Town Centre which seeks to address these issues. The vision seeks to tackle the current deficiencies within the town centre and to respond in a positive way. A key element of this vision is improvements to the public realm. The Council has allocated £250k for public realm improvements to begin pursuing the top priority projects identified in the vision focusing on the traditional heart of the Town Centre around Market Place, Chestergate and Mill Street.

An overview of the Town Vision was shown at the Make it Macclesfield Breakfast on 23rd November 2012.

* For a full description of the development and the application details please visit the planning pages.

Timescale

The responses received from both statutory consultees and members of the public undertaken for planning application 12/1212M from the first round of consultation between April 2012 and December 2012 have been considered and recorded. Revised plans have been submitted. Further public consultation is now underway, following which it is likely that the application will be considered by the Strategic Planning Board on March 20th 2013.

If you would like to comment, please submit comments by 22 February 2013.

In order to aid understanding of this major scheme, the planning team are also running surgeries each week day between 12.30pm and 1.30pm from 11th January to 22nd February 2013 at the Town Hall, Macclesfield, where half hourly or hourly slots will be available by appointment. If you would like to book an appointment, please telephone 0300 123 5014. If you have a particular difficulty attending a surgery and would like to make an alternative arrangement, please contact a member of the team, who will advise regarding potential options.