Fury as £19 million town cinema scheme scrapped
BY THE EXPRESS REPORTING TEAM
PLANS for a £19m town centre leisure complex in Macclesfield have been scrapped after the developer pulled out of the scheme.
Ask Real Estate have announced they will not move ahead with plans to transform part of the town centre by creating a seven screen cinema as well as eight cafes, restaurants and bars.
The scheme had been scheduled to open in the Churchill Way area in 2020.
The developer blamed its decision to pull out of the scheme on ‘challenges in the food and beverage sector’ and it comes after a number of high profile chains closed branches across the country.
It is yet another blow to the town after a planned £90m redevelopment of the town centre by Wilson Bowdon was abandoned in 2015.
Councillor Laura Jeuda described the news as ‘disappointing’ and said the people of Macclesfield had been let down again.
The Labour councillor for Macclesfield South said: “The council is consistently and persistently letting down the people of Macclesfield.
“I never thought it was going to happen because I am more realistic.
“There have been plans before for a cinema and it was going to be the be all and end all.”
Details of the collapse of the latest scheme were released by the council just minutes before the Express was due to go to press on Tuesday.
A spokesperson from Ask said: “Despite the positive attributes of Macclesfield as a location, given the significant downward shift in the food and beverage sector nationally, we have decided not to proceed with our Macclesfield scheme.
“We have not taken this decision lightly. However, with investor sentiment pushing down pricing in the sector which is beyond our control, we are unable to progress.”
Macclesfield David Rutley MP said he was extremely disappointed and has called for an urgent round table meeting to kickstart the redevelopment of the town.
He said: “The scheme was an important element of plans to regenerate Macclesfield town centre.
“It is now more essential than ever that Cheshire East Council puts forward an updated, comprehensive plan to revitalise the town centre, so that it better reflects the strength of the local economy and the vibrancy of our community spirit.
“That is why I have asked Rachel Bailey, Leader of Cheshire East Council, to join me in holding an urgent round table meeting to kick start the process of developing up to date plans to regenerate the town centre.
“Other key local stakeholders, including our two town centre councillors, and representatives from organisations such as the Treacle Market, Make It Macclesfield, Enterprising Macclesfield and the North Cheshire Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise should also be involved.”
The project involved a conditional land sale between Cheshire East Council and Ask Real Estate, subject to Ask gaining planning permission.
Cheshire East Council have confirmed they will now look at other options for the land.
Councillor Ainsley Arnold, Cheshire East Council cabinet member for housing, planning and regeneration, said: “While I appreciate that this is disappointing news, to myself and many residents of Macclesfield, the challenges Ask have faced in making this scheme viable are understood in the context of the significant downturn in the market.
“The difficulties of others letting similar schemes across the country are well documented and it is regrettable, but understandable, that Ask and their funders have made the decision that this specific development is not deliverable. Macclesfield town centre is performing better than many at this time of significant challenge to the traditional British high street.
“With the advent of high-speed rail services, we are confident about the future of the town and the private sector is dem- onstrating equally high levels of confidence in Macclesfield as a place to invest in. The expansion of the Grosvenor Shopping Centre is nearing completion and the number and variety of the town’s many unique and high-quality independent shops continues to grow.”
Nick Mannion, Labour councillor for Macclesfield West and Ivy, said: “This has come out of the blue.
“This is potentially damaging for the possibility of regenerating the town centre. This is the second time plans for regeneration have stalled and I do wonder where we go from here. It is going to have a negative impact on business confidence in the town.
“In contrast to other town centres in Cheshire East we seem unable to put together a regeneration plan that is attractive to investment from the private sector.”