The Wilson Bowden Macclesfield redevelopment scheme has ceased to be, expired and gone to meet its maker, its bereft of life, its metabolic processes are now ‘istory! It’s off the twig! It’s kicked the bucket, it’s shuffled off its mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin’ choir invisible!!*

Yesterday’s (Tuesday) Cabinet meeting authorised the termination of the Wilson Bowden development agreement as well as the withdrawal of the Compulsory Purchase Order for the Silk Street scheme.

The Council is now seeking a leisure-led scheme to spearhead the regeneration of Macclesfield town centre.

The Council is to offer Churchill Way car park and Duke Street car park – to see what options the market can deliver for development with leisure facilities at its heart.

Feedback from the recently-created Macclesfield Town Centre Vision Stakeholder Panel, set up to enable diverse local input into plans for the town, indicates there will be local support for this decision as well as for the principle of a sympathetic leisure-led scheme, potentially including such elements as a cinema, cafes and restaurants.

The move by the Council to secure development ‘as rapidly as practicable’, which was voted through at a meeting of Cabinet yesterday  (Tuesday), follows the ending of the Silk Street development agreement with Wilson Bowden.

The final scheme, however, will be decided after further consultation with local stakeholders to ensure it fits within the wider ‘Macclesfield Vision’.

Councillor Michael Jones, Leader of Cheshire East Council, said: “This Council is about actions, not just words – and we can now proceed with renewed purpose to unlock and realise the great potential of Macclesfield.

“This decision today is a watershed moment for the realisation of a leisure regeneration scheme for Macclesfield town centre and signals a new era.

“As the development agreement with Wilson Bowden has terminated, the Council can now go forward and actively test the market for interest from other potential developers, who may wish to invest in the town centre utilising some of the land, which has for many years been earmarked for the Silk Street scheme.

“We believe there is a strong market interest in this project, which will be central to delivering a town centre that the people of Macclesfield deserve.” Potential options will be discussed with the stakeholder panel and key town centre landowners – ensuring an active voice for local people who are passionate about their town, its wellbeing and future success.

Following Cllr Jones’ announcement in April, that the Council would consider offering free car parking within the town centre boundary, the stakeholder panel has already begun work to inform how a new car parking strategy could be developed and to define the area of focus for regeneration efforts.

Cllr Jones was instrumental in drafting in commercial property expert Nick Hynes, in March this year, to lead the new Macclesfield Town Centre Vision Stakeholder Panel to shape the way forward and advise the Council.

Its remit includes investigating options for accelerating the delivery of a leisure scheme for the town centre and getting the views of the local community about their ambitions and aspirations for Macclesfield.

Council regeneration specialist Jo Wise has also been appointed as the new project director for Macclesfield town centre regeneration, to co-ordinate and drive the revitalisation of the town.

The Council has also committed £1m in capital funding to support projects to refurbish and revitalise the town centre.

Maybe a wash ‘n’ brush up was what the town most needed (ed)

*With thanks and apologies to the Monty Python team and their Dead Parrot sketch!