St Helens Council has appointed specialist property development consultants, Vernon & Co, and regeneration consultants, Regeneris, to launch a major land and employment study that will help to shape the Borough’s economic development and planning policy over the next decade and beyond. The study is one of the most wide-ranging pieces of research ever to be carried out in St Helens and has a twin focus.  One element is to review the quality and availability of sites and premises, together with the projected future demand and supply of land for employment purposes, which will inform the Council's Local Development Framework. Linked to this, the study will also look at overall employment needs in the Borough, in terms of the possible future skills and workforce requirements of local businesses plus the prospective impact of market changes on future skills and employment needs. These will all be tested according to various growth scenarios, linked to the City Growth Strategy - the private sector-led regeneration plan for ‘St Helens plc’ currently being revised – and the various major regeneration projects it contains.

The Council has appointed specialist economic development and regeneration consultants Regeneris Consulting, and specialist property development consultants Vernon & Co., to carry out the research, which will also help the Borough to maximise the benefits of the St Helens Local Enterprise Growth Initiative, a £20 million, five-year programme launched to stimulate enterprise, encourage the growth of local businesses, and attract inward investment.

Councillor Richard Ferry, St Helens Council's Executive Member for Urban Regeneration, says: “This is a very important study for St Helens. It will enable us to build an accurate and comprehensive picture of land supply and employment needs in the Borough, both now and in the future, so that we can orient our economic development and planning policies accordingly in order to maximise benefits and opportunities for local people and businesses.”

The consultants behind the redevelopment proposals at the Richard Burbidge town centre site will be publishing answers to questions raised about the scheme so far.

Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) are now available on the website www.cambriangateway.co.uk.  These answers do not present any particular spin but are intended to continue an open and honest dialogue with the people and businesses of the town. They are also an opportunity to correct misunderstandings and put right some inaccurate information which has appeared elsewhere, about issues such as the size of the proposed foodstore and the degree to which shoppers living close to Oswestry might be encouraged to shop more locally.

So far the website has been visited 774 times, and with over 3,300 pages viewed. Comments on the proposed development at the Richard Burbidge site are due to close this Friday, 20^th June.

Commenting on the FAQ section of the website, Kathy Bibby of design consultants Taylor Young said: “We feel it is important that everyone gets the chance to consider the proposals and provide us with their views early in the planning process.”

“We have consulted with all interested parties and the wider community through a public exhibition, consultation meetings with stakeholder groups and the website. The FAQs section of the website provides further information and we will take account of all comments received as we prepare the submission of an outline planning application.”

A new plan to develop a site at the edge of Oswestry town centre, with a supermarket, cinema, DIY store and new health and residential care facilities will open for public consultation on 4 and 5  June

The new scheme is a proposal for the current Richard Burbidge Ltd manufacturing and distribution sites in Whittington Road and Unicorn Road and follows the company’s recent announcement that it was looking to re-locate to new purpose-built premises in Oswestry.

As the company’s Chief Executive, Steve Underhill, commented:

  “ We have identified a number of suitable sites for a new factory in Oswestry and are confident we can deliver a modern, purpose-built facility. We are the town’s largest employer with over 400 employees and are committed to staying in Oswestry.  Such a move will allow the company to remain competitive in its market place and provide opportunities for future growth . ”

“ However any move has to be funded by developing our existing sites and we have appointed a professional team to advise us, and develop these new proposals.”

 The professional team includes; Vernon & Co (Development Consultants), King Sturge (Planning Consultants), Taylor Young (Urban Design, Masterplanning and Architecture) and WSP/Axis (Highways Consultants).

This team has created an exciting plan for the site, which meets many of the town’s future requirements. This reflects the Council commissioned retail study update which identified a need for an additional foodstore in Oswestry as well as additional non-food retail floorspace.  There has also been a longstanding desire for a cinema in the town and, in addition , their are some outstanding requirements for health related facilities close to the new medical centre soon to be provided in part of the Cambrian Works building.

For the larger of the two existing sites, the plan proposes a major new supermarket  and petrol filling station, the creation of a 5 screen cinema and a DIY store with associated garden centre, as well as leisure or community uses in part of the listed Cambrian Works building.

Plans for the smaller site are not currently at such an advanced stage but discussions are taking place with regards to the Whittington Road site's suitability to locate these outstanding medical and care home needs.  Some of these facilities were previously expected to be accommodated on the 5 acre site prior to the 'Village Green' action, and the Phase 1 Medical centre is being delivered in part of the listed Cambrian Works.

In total, the new development is expected to create around 500 jobs in the town.

Announcing that the proposals were ready for public consultation, Development Consultant, Peter Vernon, said:

"The Richard Burbidge sites are of sufficient size to accommodate much of the town's additional retail and leisure needs as well as any other outstanding care/health needs."

“The sites are also located in a sequentially preferable location  given their proximity to the town centre thus enabling  pedestrian linkages with the existing centre and  combined shopping trips.”

“Indeed a new food store, in particular, should significantly reduce the level of trade being lost to Wrexham and Shrewsbury, improving the town’s trading position to the benefit of the town centre as a whole. It will also increase the choice  available to local people which is currently limited so far as food shopping is concerned”

“We are also aware of other proposals in the town for a large retail and leisure development at the Livestock Market site and it is important that we make progress with our redevelopment proposals, as we consider the Richard Burbidge site much better meets the planning guidance for such developments and we need to ensure both proposals are considered by the Local Planning Authority within similar timeframes.”

“The plan offers an opportunity to ensure the long term success of the largest employer in the town whilst also delivering a legacy development that will tangibly benefit the whole of Oswestry.  It will also help regenerate the North Eastern corridor of the town, which the Borough Council has identified as a priority, at the edge of the town centre, building on the historic importance of the Cambrian Railway Works building.”

“In total we believe the proposal is compelling and exceptional, and therefore we would like to inform and consult with stakeholders and carry out a wider community consultation as part of the planning application process.  We are intending to hold a 2 day exhibition in the town on Wednesday 4 June between 11am – 4pm and on Thursday 5 June between 3pm – 8pm at the Memorial Hall, Smithfield Street in Oswestry town centre.  The development team will be on hand to answer any questions  and we look forward to hearing people’s views”.

See www.cambriangateway.co.uk for more information on these proposals.

Richard Burbidge Ltd is looking to redevelop the former Atkinson and Kirby timber yard between Derby Street and Wigan Road, Ormskirk.

The nine acre site also incorporates the current West Lancashire and District Council offices.

The potential for these to be demolished and new offices built has been included in the site.

The entire plan was made available for consultation at the council offices and more than 60 people saw the proposals showed a plan for offices, houses, retirement apartments and flats.

Work began to demolish buildings on the timber yard site last week.

Development consultant Peter Vernon said "the plans to regenerate the derelict site appear to have been generally well received, but the comments generated from the Public Consultation will be analysed before submitting an outline planning application".

A more detailed planning application would be required before any development takes place.

Councillor Adrian Owens cabinet member for finance, said: "This is an excellent regeneration opportunity for Ormskirk. I’m delighted there is no student accommodation and we will be able to give council officers a decent building to work in."

Further information and copies of the Public Consultation are available via http://www.tayloryoung.co.uk/richard_burbidge_public_consultation.pdf