The Cheshire East Conservative Group is delighted that the new Strategic Regeneration Framework for Macclesfield was unanimously supported and adopted by the Coalition Cabinet last week, recognising the culmination of the significant work that the Conservative administration completed last Spring and is great news for Macclesfield.
Of course regeneration projects are complex, costly, invariably controversial and previous schemes for the Town, although they started well, ultimately failed as local priorities changed and investors moved on elsewhere.
Cllr Janet Clowes (Conservative Group Leader) explained “In response to these disappointments, in late 2018, under the supervision of Cllr Ainsley Arnold (then Councillor of Tytherington Ward), we appointed a dedicated member of staff to focus specifically on Macclesfield and took independent, external consultancy advice to support a new public consultation process throughout February and March 2019”.
The result was a strong framework for revitalising the town centre that has been shaped by local people, for local people.
“What was very clear from this work (and the regeneration of other towns), is that a shared vision for change is vital – and must be supported throughout the life of all phases of the strategy. Successful urban regeneration requires and creates very different town centres and Macclesfield is no exception. It is well-placed to build on its historical and cultural past to develop further as a unique ‘destination’ for visitors. At the same time the town will offer day-time and night-time economic activities alongside retail shopping with an important new focus on leisure. Importantly, success is strongly linked with inward investment, town centre housing and thriving town centre communities”.
“This Framework will be used to design the options available for each of the Town's six ‘character areas’ and together with residents, we look forward to the detailed designs for the first of these areas, Chestergate and Macclesfield’s historic heart, being brought forward very soon.”
(Photo: davidrutley.org.uk)
