PLANS to transform a shopping parade on Chester’s largest housing estate are set for a major public consultation process.
The £18.8 million development of The Parade in Blacon will require the demolition of a number of shops, including the Spar, a hairdresser’s and a furniture store.
They will make way for new homes, a health centre and social enterprise centre. The revamp will also include major improvements to shop frontages.
Bosses behind the joint partnership scheme – involving Chester and District Housing Trust (CDHT), Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC) and the Western Cheshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) – will begin public consultation in March, to coincide with the first of a three-phase planning application. This application will centre around improvements to frontages, including the newsagent’s, post office, butcher’s, takeaway and chemist’s.
Meanwhile bosses say everything will be done to “improve the retail offering” on the current site.
Neighbourhood manager for Blacon, Janet Gittins, addressed residents at a community forum meeting, where they learned about consultation plans and were asked about effective consultation methods.
Ms Gittins told the Leader afterwards: “We are aware there are concerns about the situation directly involving a number of retailers at The Parade, and there will be full and constant consultation as plans progress.
“The development is all about improving the retail offering at the site and the team will do everything they can to support businesses. There are individual needs and opportunities for each business and that will be a consideration.
“This is the start of an exciting time in the development and we are nearly there with the funding packaging, we are waiting to hear whether we have been successful in securing the £1.4m ERDF funding in line with the Social Enterprise and Community
Centre and plans will move forward in line with that.
Every household in Blacon and beyond will receive a leaflet informing them of public consultation dates.
Public consultation is expected to last up to two years, with the development scheduled for completion by March 2015.
Residents and businesses have been campaigning for the redevelopment of The Parade since 2004.
The development has been described as a “new town centre for Blacon” and its 16,000-plus residents.