Construction work on the first phase of the Cheshire West and Chester Council led regeneration of Winsford town centre is now complete.

Kier Construction began work on the Council’s £22 million project in Spring 2023, funded by the Council and the Government’s Future High Street Fund. It is the biggest investment in the town centre shopping area since the 1960s, made possible by the Council’s acquisition of the site in 2018.

The demolition of buildings no longer fit for purpose, such as Queens Parade and Fountain Court, has paved the way for the building of new and improved spaces for businesses. New units are much more energy efficient, meaning that operating costs are reduced for tenants and the overall carbon footprint of the town centre is reduced.

Winsford welcomed Costa Coffee to the town in May 2024 in a new building with striking architecture at the corner of Dene Drive and High Street, offering drive-thru and indoor seating. The new B&M superstore and garden centre – roughly half the size of a football pitch – opened on Wednesday.

The regeneration has boosted the local economy, with Costa Coffee and B&M joining other businesses including Peacocks, Greggs, Nationwide, MyDentist, Caprinos, Hollie&Co., Tur&Co. and Specsavers in relocating to new units in the town centre. Including construction, the project has created over 70 jobs so far.

A new 168-space car park off Dene Drive is now open and includes 18 EV charging points. Parking is free for three hours, including for blue badge holders and the users of the new electric charging points. In addition, there are new pathways, providing improved routes for walking, cycling and dedicated cycle storage.

Around 5,000 sq. m. of public open spaces have been created for pop-ups, events, visiting attractions and the community to enjoy. There is also more green space in the town centre than ever before including the planting of 53 new trees, creating a relaxing and pleasant environment to enjoy which adds to the existing assets like Town Park.

This includes a new purpose-built civic square outside Winsford Library, where the town’s refurbished war memorials now stand pride of place. The two war memorials were carefully dismantled, cleaned, restored and reassembled using specialist equipment by an experienced restoration specialist and stonemason. Residents and visitors now benefit from improved and increased space around the memorials, which have been installed at surface level to provide better access for all.

Planning for further development in the town centre is underway. The Council remains committed to Winsford Market which was always part of and remains part of this stage of investment. Positive dialogue with traders has taken place carefully considering the preferred option and a report will be taken to the Council’s Cabinet shortly to agree the implementation.

Since May 2023, the Dingle Centre has been used by Kier as a site office during construction work and will be leaving the site in May 2025. The building is in very poor condition and this area will have a new purpose in the town adjacent to the fantastic library. The Council are currently in the process of progressing demolition and once cleared, the site will become part of the future development phases for Winsford town centre.

Cllr Nathan Pardoe, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Economy, Regeneration and Digital Transformation, said:

“I am delighted that construction work on the first phase of the Council’s ambitious regeneration of the town centre is now complete. Public shopping habits have changed, meaning town centres must change with them – it’s why the Council purchased the town centre in 2018, and why it has invested £22.5m in the first phase of the regeneration. It is the biggest investment in the town centre since the 1960s and has transformed it into something ready for the future that Winsford is proud of again.

“Winsford is on the up, with the arrival of new retailers showing business confidence in the town thanks to Cheshire West and Chester Council’s transformation of the town centre. This adds to the fantastic shopping offer in the town centre. Better still, the investment has created over 70 jobs, helping us to create a fair local economy with opportunities for many. I am proud of the fact that 22 people who have received support from the Council’s Winsford Skills & Employment Hub have been successful in securing jobs at the new B&M superstore, which is testament to the fantastic work of our Skills and Employment service.

“This regeneration project has been truly transformational for Winsford, but we recognise that this can’t be where the work ends. A key opportunity is Winsford Market, with traders and the public saying that Winsford needs a better market offer – and they’re right. I’ve listened to this as have Cheshire West and Chester Council staff, and we’ve been meeting with the Winsford Market traders to discuss what they would like to see in an improved market. Doing nothing is not an option – Winsford Market needs a step change, and Cheshire West & Chester Council will continue to work with traders and the public to deliver it as the cherry on top of the first phase of the regeneration.”

Jane Hough, Deputy Director for Business Improvement Districts and Business Services at Groundwork Cheshire who work across Mid Cheshire including Winsford, said:

“We are pleased that the Council has delivered on a long-held ambition to regenerate the town centre, which has been a leading priority for residents and our businesses.

“It complements the significant investment in Winsford Industrial Estate, which was also led by the Council to deliver business growth in the town and for Mid Cheshire more widely. We are confident that this will act as a catalyst for further investment, growth and footfall, and our businesses are encouraged by the confidence already being shown in the town.

“The regeneration is a great example of how the town has been able to make effective use of external funding opportunities and deliver on a Council commitment.

“It has been inspiring to work with various local stakeholders and Winsford is continuing to cement itself as a strong and thriving area for people to live, invest and do business.”

A spokesperson for the Winsford Branch of the Royal British Legion said:

“Firstly, we would like to thank the contractors, and all others involved, who put in so much effort in restoring our town’s Cenotaph and Boer War Memorial, ensuring the work was completed in time for the 80^th anniversary of D-Day in June 2024.

“The Cenotaph and the Boer War Memorial have been the focal point of the town centre since 1989. Now sited in their new locations near the town’s library, they remain a focal point of the town centre, where anyone can pause, reflect and remember on one of the several benches in the area. The people of Winsford and further afield can gather and participate in the remembrance parades for many more years to come. Winsford’s veteran community, the larger community and also visitors to our town, have expressed to us how ‘wonderful’ and ‘fantastic’ the Cenotaph looks with the Boer War Memorial.

“The work completed in the restoration has been meticulous, making both the Cenotaph and the Boer War Memorial a lasting tribute to the memory and the sacrifice of those from Winsford and surrounding areas, whose names are upon them. The Cenotaph and the Boer War Memorial sit proudly in the new area around them, at the going down of the sun, the Cenotaph and the Boer War Memorial are now illuminated.”

For more information on the Council’s regeneration of Winsford town centre, visit: https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/regeneration-of-west-cheshire/winsford-regeneration/town-centre