Marina plans revealed

[Josher]

Must try the Weaver one day ...

 

Marina plans revealed 10:33am Wednesday 16th November 2011 Northwich Guardian

 

 

DRAMATIC plans to transform Northwich’s riverside are being met with cautious optimism by Northwich’s traders and figureheads. Proposals are about to be revealed for a 58-home block of extra care housing, an 18,000 sq ft Waitrose, a 40-berth marina and waterside leisure facilities alongside the River Weaver. The new development, which will also include access to the waterfront and a new public footpath, will fill the site of the former Regal cinema, Floatel and Northwich Marina.

 

Town mayor Clr Alison Gerrard said: “I’m thrilled that they’re going to do something with it because it looks a mess at the moment. The marina development is a really nice idea and it could be linked in with things like the Anderton Boat Lift with maybe boat trips along the river. On the down side it’s another supermarket, but Waitrose isn’t going to be open 24/7 and it’s a niche market.”

 

The proposals, which would create up to 230 jobs, have been put forwards by H2O, a national joint venture company owned by British Waterways and bloc. They will be displayed in a public exhibition at 14 Market Way, in Weaver Square, from noon to 5pm on Friday, November 25, and10am to 3pm on Saturday, November 26. A planning application is expected to be submitted early next year.

 

Cheshire West and Chester councillor Gaynor Sinar, who runs Gaynor’s Curtain Magic, in Witton Street, and founded the Northwich Independent Retailers Association, said she was pleased with the plans. “I think on the face of it it’s good,” she said. “50 to 60 apartments means people that will use and shop in the town and there will also be about 200 parking spaces at the Bull Ring side of town. We’ve had a look at the H2O proposals as councillors and as retailers and there wasn’t anything we would change.”

 

H2O is working with the existing J&S motorbike store to integrate it into the scheme and is also helping to reopen the Plaza as a cinema in Witton Street.

 

Scheme supporters:

 

• Richard Thomas, director of bloc and development manager for H2O, said: “These proposals will regenerate a long underused and mostly vacant site that has severe constraints to development. This is an opportunity to deliever a significant phase of the town’s regeneration plans in a relatively short timescale, as well as providing a potential catalyst for future phases of regeneration in Northwich.”

 

• Mike Coates, British Waterways investment and development manager (north), said: “The proposals will enable new investment in the waterways to maintain and enhance the local waterways network for the benefit of waterways users and provide public access to Northwich’s new waterfront. The new development will be of the highest standards of design as befits the site’s important location.”

 

• Steve Secker, regional managing director of McCarthy and Stone, said: “Our extra care developments allow people to make the most of their retirement years giving peace of mind, comfort and independence, providing a home for the remainder of their life regardless of changes in their care needs. Given the nature of the proposal, our Northwich Marina scheme will introduce a sensitive form of development which will be designed to complement the surrounding area.

 

• Nigel Keen, Waitrose director of development, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for us to realise a long-standing ambition to open a store in Northwich and invest in a regeneraion project that we are confident will delilver significant benefits to the town.”

 

• Gillian Edwards, from the Plaza project, said: “Naturally we are upset and and disappointed about the loss of the Regal but realistically the building is beyond saving and the fact that the Plaza, which is owned by the same family as the Regal, will once again operate as a community cinema is great for the town’s continuity.” She added: “It’s very better sweet but the fact that the Regal will be no more has resulted in numerous opportunities for us with the Plaza that we never thought possible.”

 

• Geoff Hope-Terry, chairman of Weaver Valley Partnership, said: “There must be a ‘whole-town’ approach to regeneration in Northwich and the development of the marina site is a key part of that. It will not only open up the riverside area, but it will also link the waterfront through to both the development at Baron’s Quay and the site around the Memorial Hall. This is great news for the town and shows that good progress is being made.”

[Keeping Up]

Excellent. We moored opposite there, this summer, and immediately thought "that would be an ideal place for a marina", Previously it was filled with the hideous floating hotel. My one concern would be that as it is so close to the town centre, security could be an issue.

 

Here is a picture of the site, looking across from West to East. The Dane flows in just to the left of this picture, and you can still see a couple of the posts that stopped the Floatel from drifting away.

 

Northwich by Keeping Up, on Flickr

[Mike C]

Watch out folks the sting is that the development will mean a major supermarket car park next to the river and the loss of the British Waterways Hayhurst repair yard slipway and shed which is in constant use by private boaters. The demise of another facility for a supermarket (Waitrose)- Northwich already has (within easy walking distance) Sainsbury, Tesco, Tesco express, M&S, Lidle, Aldie, Co-op and Iceland.

Edited November 21, 2011 by Mike C

[Mike C]

There is a formal consolation on the proposals. If you have comment on the loss of use of this slipway and its canopy then please send something to pdimoldenberg@quatro-consults.co.ukEmail link

Brief comments are fine. Mine simply says. ‘This development should not mean the loss of use of the covered slipway’ With 'Northwich riverside development' in the subject area.

[marcus]

Some great photos here Link

[marcus]

I commented to the consultation and received an email from the PR company saying that BW intends to make the drydock and wet dock available below Hunts lock, however they have missed the point that these sites have been used by private boats in recent years anyway and that the site has foot access only with no road access as it is on a island in the river and a road bridge would be prohibitively expensive.

I have told them this in return to their response, however I fear that they may not be listening. Has anyone else sent in any comments and had this response from them?

[Josher]

Latest ...

 

Jobs hope for Northwich Marina development

 

14th February 2012 The Business Desk

 

Northwich Marina development

 

H2O, the joint venture company between British Waterways and private developer bloc, has submitted plans to redevelop Northwich Marina in Cheshire. The firm said that it had received "strong support" for a scheme which could create 230 jobs during a consultation exercise with local residents. More than 750 members of the public attended a public exhibition and of the 170 who left comments, 82% offered full support while a further 14% expressed support with some reservations.

 

H20 plans a scheme that will invlde an 18,000 sq ft Waitrose foodstore and parking for town centre shoppers, improvements to waterways including 40 mooring berths for boats, new waterside restaurant and cafe facilities and a retirement village with 58 new homes and a restaurant designed for the elderly. Richard Thomas, director of bloc and development manager for H2O, said: “These proposals will regenerate a long underused and mostly vacant site that has severe constraints to development. This is an opportunity to deliver a significant phase of the town’s regeneration plans in a relatively short timescale, as well as providing a potential catalyst for future phases of regeneration in Northwich.”

 

Mike Coates, British Waterways' northern investment & development manager, said: “The proposed improvements to the waterways have received very strong support from residents and waterways users. The proposals will give public access to Northwich’s new waterfront and will enable us to maintain and enhance the waterways network for the benefit of all users.” Geoff Hope-Terry, chair of Weaver Valley Partnership, said: "Northwich's rivers are part of its unique heritage offering and these proposals will play a key part in transforming the town's future.”

[dor]

Haven't seen any mention of visitor moorings, which would be useful there.