20 June 2008, 08/133
Masterplan approved for Skelmersdale
The £350 million regeneration project to bring a new heart to
Skelmersdale town centre has taken a step forward with the approval
of the masterplan by West Lancashire District Council.
The masterplan includes the features that local people have said
they want in the town centre including a new high street, more
shops, another supermarket, a new leisure centre, community
facilities, improvements to the Tawd Valley, and housing. It also
demonstrates how these key features will fit together to create the
integrated, functional and vibrant town centre that Skelmersdale
deserves.
Councillor Adrian Owens, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration,
said: "The Cabinet has now approved the masterplan and this is a
huge step forward for Skelmersdale. It means that the blueprint is
in place for the future shape of the town centre and the developer
can now go ahead and develop detailed proposals prior to submitting
a planning application.
Councillor Martin Forshaw, Portfolio Holder for Planning
added,
"We consulted extensively on the masterplan and almost 1,900
people gave their views. The vast majority were in favour of the
proposals and I am delighted to say that the masterplan features
the facilities that people have told us they want to see in the
town centre. We have not had to make any radical changes to the
draft Masterplan, but have introduced some new wording, and made
minor changes to the layout plan, to improve the document. The
document will now be amended and released in the near future."
Some of the key features of the masterplan are:
· A new high street linking the Concourse and Asda. This will be
a pedestrian-friendly street, probably with limited access for cars
and buses. A new sports centre and swimming pool for community use.
The Cabinet has agreed that existing facilities at Digmoor Sports
Centre and Nye Bevan Pool will remain open until the new centre is
opened, if possible.
· A brand new multi-million pound building for Skelmersdale
College at the north end of the new high street, near Asda
· A cinema plus shops, bars and restaurants along the new high
street, with residential apartments above. Parking facilities would
also be provided.
· A new library/resource centre, a new police facility and a new
building for the Ecumenical Centre in the heart of the town
centre.
· A new bus station on the eastern side of the Concourse, and a
new hotel at the side of the Concourse close to where the current
bus station stands.
· A new food superstore to be located close to the
Concourse.
· A new link road, with traffic calming to improve safety,
running north from the Concourse to connect with existing road
networks. It will be stressed in the masterplan that this will not
sever the important pedestrian route from the Concourse.
· A high-quality adventure play area for children in the town
centre.
· Improvements to the Tawd Valley, with new paths and cycleways.
The provision of appropriate specialist recreational activities
will also be investigated.
· The masterplan allocates open land alongside Yewdale for
development and also shows the clearance and redevelopment of
Firbeck for new homes which will have a high-quality design and
layout. Firbeck tenants and homeowners have been consulted on a
package of compensation measures that will be offered if planning
permission for development is granted.
Related information
> Skelmersdale
> Regeneration
projects