EXCLUSIVE

THIS could be the face of Macclesfield town centre in just six years time.

It is one of four proposed developments which are being studied by the borough council which would revolutionise the shopping precinct.

All four developers (Cathco Properties and Asda; DB Real Estates and Tesco; HBG Properties; and Wilson Bowden) have recommended a department store, a large food store, a bigger shopping area with upmarket high street shops and more car parking spaces.

The estimated total of the scheme - launched with the erection of a massive multi-storey car park - is around £150m and could take around six years to complete.

However, it will not cost taxpayers anything and the council will actually earn cash from letting the developers build on its land.

All of the plans will be unveiled to the public on Friday (July 8) at the Senior Citizens' Hall, where people will be asked for their comments.

Today (Wednesday) councillors and other interested agencies will be presented with the plans.

Developers are hoping to start work within two years, after they have completed property deals and got planning permission.

Graham Childs, forward planning manager at the council, said the first stage would be to build a multi-storey car park to accommodate cars while the rest of the development went on.

Macclesfield Mayor Councillor Norman Edwards welcomed the plans and said: "I think the town centre does need some redevelopment and I'm looking forward to seeing the designs.

"I will be on the panel that will pick a developer and we will do the best for the town."

Bill Livesley, president of the Macclesfield Chamber of Trade, said: "Although I have not yet seen the plans, I hope the planning development reflects the needs of the town.

"I hope it is unique, different and will bring more people to shop in Macclesfield."

Macclesfield Borough Council put out a detailed design brief of what they would like in the town, and the main sites for development will be Exchange Street car park, Duke Street car park, Samuel Street and Park Lane and Churchill Way car park.

Although these car parks are to be built on, the developers aim to replace the existing car parks by building multi-storey car parks above and underground.

Additionally, the council said it wanted a cinema and to encourage more shops and leisure facilities to the town. All of the plans include keeping the much-loved discount store, TJ Hughes, and moving it to a different site.

The council also wanted to improve the existing Senior Citizens' Hall on Duke Street into an arts centre and keep the Heritage Centre where it is on Roe Street.

The Litten Tree, which last week went into administration, also features strongly in the plans, and the building is owned by Cathco, who have submitted their plans.

A sub-committee of councillors will look at all the submissions, along with views of townsfolk, and in September councillors will pick one to complete the huge project.

Mr Childs said: "We will choose the developer which is most sympathetic to the town and councillors can ask them to make any changes to the plan."

The council is asking for people's views and will hold a display of the four development submissions. The schemes can be viewed at the Senior Citizens' Hall on Duke Street on Friday, July 8 from 10am to 7.30pm and Saturday, July 9 from 9.30am to 4pm; the Old Town Hall from Monday, July 11. It will be open on Monday to Thursday 8.45am to 5pm and Friday 8.45am to 4.30pm.