After six years of waiting, a vision for Macclesfield town centre is a step nearer to reality. With full plans to be revealed at a public exhibition this weekend, the sneak preview on page 1 represents a giant leap forward for residents who have been waiting since developer Wilson Bowden was appointed six years ago.

The artist’s impression shows the view looking across Churchill Way from Water Street car park.

The Heritage Centre is on the right and Tesco on the far left. You can also see the side of the eight-screen multiplex cinema on the near left, already contracted to Cineworld.

There are 22 shops, a Debenhams store and new car parking.

The vision follows months of public consultation in the wake of a backlash and consequent binning of original plans in 2009 and a budget cut last March from £200m to £100m.

Patrick Arthurs, planning director, said: "It’s really important to us that we have the support of the community. These are the people who are going to use this space and shop here.

"We’ve really listened and taken on board what’s been said in public consultations – and I think what we have planned is a lot more suitable to the town and much reduced from original plans.

"We have also worked very closely with businesses to make sure they are happy."

The work is pencilled in to start in 2013 and to take two years. Mr Arthurs added: "One of our key aims was to create a more green landscape – that was something that came out in the consultation, that there weren’t many trees."

He accepted there had been difficulties with previous plans, adding: "This time the overall development has been much reduced. We can’t make everybody happy because many people have very specific requests but we are working on key principles that are suitable for all.

"We will try to take as much feedback into consideration as possible in this new consultation too."

There are still plans for compulsory land purchases but Mr Arthurs insists these have been reduced significantly, saying: "We hope to minimise acquisitions beyond those which are absolutely necessary."

Coun Jamie Macrae, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for prosperity, said: "The scheme takes into account many of the views expressed during the consultations last summer and will form a crucial part of our regeneration proposals for the town as a whole."

South Macclesfield Development Area is between Congleton Road and London Road and is also a focus for the future, with plans for a new football stadium.

The public exhibition is at Macclesfield Old Town Hall on the first floor, from June 10-11 on Friday, June 10, 11am to 7pm, and Saturday, June 11, 10am to 4pm. The exhibition will then be on display for a further three weeks at the Macclesfield Town Hall customer centre.

THE plans will be the main topic in workshops at the next Business Breakfast on Friday in the Assembly Room at the Old Town Hall from 7.45am.  Email jennifer.anderson@cheshireeast.gov.uk if you want to attend.

See next week’s Express for a full story on reaction to the plans.