Local councillors recommended to approve Burnley’s Town Centre and Canalside Masterplan at the end of the month. The masterplan sets out proposals on how the town centre and canalside areas could look in the future. The key proposals include: A major new leisure development called “Pioneer Place”, which includes the
Councillors must start working with local builders and developers to make better use of the existing town centre buildings, advised the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Following the recent announcement of Budget 2018, FMB CEO Brian Berry was speaking on the development of space above shops. “It is important that
Town centre redevelopment sits at the fore of most regional councils’ key strategies for development, with the addition of new public spaces, amenities and high street stores to bring in consumer traffic. As such, those works set out for the development of Barnsley’s town centre are regarded as a great
Local councillors recommended to approve Burnley’s Town Centre and Canalside Masterplan at the end of the month. The masterplan sets out proposals on how the town centre and canalside areas could look in the future. The key proposals include: A major new leisure development called “Pioneer Place”, which includes the relocation of Reel cinema to a new multi-screen complex at Curzon Street. The new site will also include new food, beverage and retail units. It would include a new public square and improved pedestrian access. The development would include a 125-space car park. Continued improvement to Charter Walk shopping centre, including new frontages for the shops facing Market Square and the relocation of the market hall access stair. The development of a university campus site, including new student accommodation around Sandygate Square. A longer-term option is to develop the George Street Mill site, which is between the town centre and Sandygate. Largely derelict at present, the area could become a future university campus site, including additional teaching buildings for UCLan, with more student accommodation, or it could be developed for residential use, building on the success of Bridgewalk Apartments. “We’re grateful to everyone who fed back their views during the consultation. The overall response was generally supportive of our vision for the future of Burnley. This masterplan sets out how the town centre and surrounding areas could be developed to establish Burnley as a university town with a thriving and vibrant shopping centre and an historic heart that successfully mixes industrial heritage with future aspirations,” said Asif Raja, Executive Member for Economy and Growth. “The council’s job is to bring together investment from the council, the wider public sector, and business, so we can deliver aspects of the masterplan. This isn’t going to happen overnight, but we make no excuses for putting forward an ambitious and aspirational vision that will deliver a brighter future for Burnley,” he concluded. The plan is projected to bring an estimated £100 million boost and up to 1,000 new jobs to the borough.
Councillors must start working with local builders and developers to make better use of the existing town centre buildings, advised the Federation of Master Builders (FMB). Following the recent announcement of Budget 2018, FMB CEO Brian Berry was speaking on the development of space above shops. “It is important that the Chancellor has recognised the importance of investing in our high streets. He has announced a £675 million Future High Streets Fund to allow councils to rejuvenate town centres. It is estimated that as many as 300,000 to 400,000 new homes alone could be created by making use of empty spaces above shops on our high streets. This is space just waiting to be turned into residential accommodation. There is a pressing need to re-invent many of our town centres in light of changing patterns of retail and leisure. The Government should be applauded for its ambition to safeguard the life of our high streets,” said Brian Berry. “A recent report titled Homes on our High Streets from the FMB puts councils at the heart of the solution and suggests some practical ways for them to facilitate the development of wasted space above shops. Retail will always be an important element of vibrant high streets, but there is plenty we can do on a small scale to help convert unused and under-used space in to attractive residential units. This will both boost the supply of new homes and help breathe new life back into our high streets. What we must avoid is perfectly good space lying empty and achieving nothing in terms of boosting the local economy or housing individuals,” he added. The FMB CEO has also welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement of £1 billion to guarantee capacity to support lending to the SME housebuilding sector. “Many small-scale house builders continue to experience real difficulty in accessing the finance they need to build homes, and it is often the smallest scale builders that experience the greatest problems. This new funding will help to speed up the delivery of homes and lead to a more diverse and resilient housing supply,” Berry concluded.
Town centre redevelopment sits at the fore of most regional councils’ key strategies for development, with the addition of new public spaces, amenities and high street stores to bring in consumer traffic. As such, those works set out for the development of Barnsley’s town centre are regarded as a great step forward in both expanding and redeveloping the centre for further commerce and prosperity. Serving as part of the construction programme set out for phase one of the Barnsley town centre redevelopment, it has been announced that Henry Boot will see the construction of a brand new central library, as well as the refurbishment of town centre retail establishments and the re-modelling and extension of Barnsley’s market buildings at the Metropolitan Centre. The works are also set to incorporate a brand new town square and further works for the public realm; however much of the works are pending the demolition of already existing structures. For management of the project, Turner & Townsend have been chosen alongside Queensberry Real Estate. The consultant will be seen to work alongside the council and will be providing private sector funding from either a property organisation or alternatively, an institutional investor to lay the foundations for phase two of the regeneration project. Phase two is expected to see the effective development of some 200,000 square feet of brand new retail and leisure space. Of course, Henry Boot’s appointment is great news for the company, where it will be playing a central role in the redevelopment of the local town centre. The project will also give Henry Boot an opportunity to showcase the standard of its work to the people of Barnsley, who will no doubt be in anticipation of the development. Tony Shaw, Operations Director of Henry Boot Construction commented: “As a local contractor, we are delighted to have been appointed to construct the Better Barnsley town centre development.”
