EXCLUSIVE

CINEMA operators ARE interested in coming to Macclesfield and a multiplex will almost certainly be built in the town centre within the next three years.

Five developers have been chosen by Macclesfield Borough Council to provide more detailed plans of how they would restructure town centre sites, including Exchange Street, west of Churchill Way, Duke Street, Samuel Street and Park Lane.

And all the developers' initial plans include a cinema, a food supermarket, more shops and replacement parking, after they were made a priority by the council.

Peter Yates, the council's chief planning officer, said there were two or three cinema operators included in the developers' plans, which are interested in opening in the town - ranging from four to ten screen complexes.

Mr Yates said: "All five of the developers' proposals include plans for a multiplex cinema and there are two or three operators interested in coming into Macclesfield.

"They will work with the developers and be included as part of the developer's package. The cinemas range in size from four screen to ten screen, but I think ten would be at the top end of what is required.

"When we produced the brief we identified a list of priorities, including a cinema, more shops, replacement parking, affordable housing, restaurants, and I know councillors were hoping for a department store.

"The five developers will now go away and produce more detailed plans and in July we will open a shop in the town centre to allow members of the public to come and see the plans and have their say.

"All the developments will be sympathetic to the existing town centre. We made it clear to developers in the brief that we didn't want the same solutions as in other town centres. We don't want just boxes attached to the current town centre, we want them to be sympathetic in character, appearance and materials used.

"It's difficult to say when construction will begin, due to various planning matters, but I expect it will be in 2007/08."

Eighteen property developers expressed an interest in redeveloping sites in the town centre, but only five were chosen to go through to the public consultation stage.

These are Cathco Property Group Ltd and Asda; Countryside Properties PLC; DB Real Estate and Spen Hill Developments (Tesco); HBG Properties Ltd; and Wilson Bowden Developments.

Coun Hilda Gaddum, portfolio holder for planning and development, said: "This is a very good response and a number of the submissions are of high quality.

"It also demonstrates that the market believes there is the scope to improve the retail and leisure facilities on offer in Macclesfield town centre."

The developers will now be given three months to prepare the schemes, before the plans are presented to the public for consultation.

An exhibition will be held in the town centre in July. Residents, groups, organisations and existing traders, will be able to study the different schemes and tell the council what they like and dislike about them.

The council will then choose one of the developers, taking into account public opinion, commercial considerations and the ability of the developers to deliver their proposals.

More details about the public exhibitions will be published nearer the time.

Manchester-based consultants Donaldsons has been appointed to assist the council on the redevelopment. In January 2005 the company placed adverts asking developers to express their interest in carrying out the Macclesfield redevelopment.