A NEW, 74,479 ft2 retail destination has officially completed in Chorley, supporting the town centre’s significant wider regeneration plan.
Perfect Circle – which provides property, construction and infrastructure consultancy services to the public sector – project managed and provided quantity surveying services for the scheme.
The project, which is owned and managed by Chorley Council, has transformed Market Walk shopping centre, providing seven new units for mixed retail, leisure and restaurants to complement and renew the town centre’s current offering.
Jon Parry, regional lead at Perfect Circle, said:
“Market Walk represents an important part of Chorley’s wider development programme, providing the area with an economic boost and the creation of new jobs. It will give the community a range of new facilities not currently available in the town centre, boosting footfall.
“The development provides facilities for a full day out including retail, leisure and entertainment along with restaurants and bars – generating a greater tourist offering and attracting more visitors to the area. We’re delighted to have been involved in this transformative project.
“Due to its location, the scheme required an innovative car parking solution. As the development is on the site of the former Flat Iron car park, we needed to ensure that parking spaces weren’t compromised for visitors to the town centre while works were taking place.
“To mitigate this, we installed the decked car park on the site of the existing Friday Street car park and progressed with enabling works immediately after planning permission was granted. We have also created an additional circa 500 car parking spaces across the town centre.”
Perfect Circle is also working on Primrose Gardens retirement village, in Fleet Street, Chorley. Both schemes were procured via Scape Group’s National Built Environment Consultancy Services (BECS) framework.
Works have also improved the public area around the Chorley Pals War Memorial, with the addition of Marks & Spencer and REEL Cinema, alongside a number of other national retailers.
Perfect Circle worked collaboratively with principal contractor Eric Wright Group, meaning that time was saved by overlapping the various contracts including, road crossings, utility diversion and public realm improvements.
Victoria Brambini, managing director of Perfect Circle, said:
“The new scheme has seen the town centre improve significantly. Replacement car parking, pedestrian accessibility and a generally more attractive destination have also helped to boost tourism and delivered real social value for the area.”
Councillor Alistair Bradley, leader of Chorley Council, said:
“We’ve been certain from day one that this project would be a success and, since we started building it just under 12 months ago, we’ve seen interest continue to grow. Three-quarters of the development has terms agreed with offers out on the remaining units. The fact we’ve achieved this shows a huge confidence in Chorley as a place to set up business when other places are really struggling with the changing nature of the high street.”
Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive, added:
“How we use our community spaces and town centres has significantly changed and Chorley Council has recognised this by investing in the Chorley Market regeneration scheme. The project will be of benefit to the whole community through better retail and leisure facilities and the associated employment opportunities.
“By procuring the project through Scape’s BECS framework, Chorley Council has been able to utilise the skills within Perfect Circle and ensure the project was delivered on time and on budget, while embedding social value.”
For more information on Perfect Circle, please visit www.perfectcircle.co.uk.