Delivering a plan for meanwhile use on a strategically important site

Cheshire East Council had plans to develop a leisure-led scheme on a prominent 2-acre site it owns in Crewe town centre. However, rising construction costs, inflation, high interest rates and a reduction in investment values meant the project was not viable in the current economic climate.

Not wishing the site to sit vacant, the council wanted to explore options for meanwhile uses for up to five years.

BACKGROUND

The council’s initial search for prospective tenants highlighted several challenges with the site.

Daytime footfall in the town also presented a challenge. People visit Crewe for work, but most offices are located on business parks outside the town. The existing town centre retail offer was limited, with empty units adding to the problems due to a large, successful retail park on the edge of the town centre.

The evening economy was also limited, with no restaurant for pre-theatre dining, for example, on days when the recently opened Crewe Market Hall is closed.

Despite the affluence in areas around Crewe, it suffers from deprivation, with many in the local community facing multiple inequalities, and anti-social behaviour is increasing as a result. However, there were also opportunities.

The site’s prime location means it is highly accessible, and Cheshire East Council was looking for a mix of commercial, income-generating uses (for the tenant) and free uses such as play, recreation or dwell space.

It also wanted a mix of fixed and seasonal uses, which serve the wider community, not a single demographic.

WHAT WE DID

The first step was to establish the current condition of the site and research key stakeholders, assets and communities based close to the town centre. For example, what did young people at the college want to see in town.

We carried out a strategic review, assessment and engagement with stakeholders across the public, voluntary and private sectors, in addition to those outside the immediate area who might be involved.

Combined with a gap analysis and market demand assessment, this helped provide us with the relevant context to assess the site’s potential and future uses.
We identified what works well in the town and what facilities and activities are missing and gathered ideas for the site.

There was also an appetite for art and culture-led activities with the potential for events or seasonal festivals.

Further opportunities included trading spaces for pop-up markets, community uses with subsidised food and drink and temporary housing.

We delivered clear, costed and research-based options, including short-term activation ideas. Cheshire East Council now has a plan to take forward, in which it can appoint partners to develop the site, alongside a timeline for delivery.

We have also completed other projects in Cheshire working with Chester & Cheshire West and Warrington local authorities as interim support in managing the county’s Destination Management Organisation (DMO)