£44m improvement plans for Chorley town centre

Major £44m regeneration plans for Chorley town centre are gathering pace with planning applications submitted for two of three exciting new projects to be delivered on brownfield sites.

If approved Chorley Council hopes to be able to start works on site towards the end of 2025.

The first application proposes the delivery of a mixed-use scheme with a new civic square situated in front of the historic town hall.

 The square will become a new destination in Chorley town centre providing space for events and public enjoyment.

The scheme will also incorporate 31 residential apartments with approximately 7,500 sq ft of new commercial space and around 9,000 sq ft of office space with public parking provision as well as new planting and green spaces.

The second application proposes the redevelopment of the council’s current depot on Bengal Street, making sustainable use of an underutilised brownfield site to deliver much needed town centre housing.   

The scheme consists of 62 high-quality, energy efficient homes includes 52 apartments and 10 townhouses with 72 car parking spaces and a landscaped garden area. The depot will be relocating to Common Bank Industrial Estate.

A third project which forms a part of the £44m investment includes the refurbishment of the council’s Union Street offices where work is underway to provide up to 20,000 sq ft of modern commercial accommodation.

The council is engaging with the NHS to determine the range of health services that could be delivered from a proposed new Health Hub.

These discussions aim to ensure that the facility meets the healthcare needs of the community, aligns with local and regional health strategies, and integrates with existing services.

The planning applications follow a successful public consultation where more than 70 per cent of participants expressed overall support for the plans. There is an overriding desire to see investment to enhance town centre facilities, affordable housing and attract more visitors.  

Coun Alistair Bradley, leader of Chorley Council, said: “We’re delighted to reach the critical planning applications stage for these exciting projects.

"This once in a lifetime investment will make sure that Chorley town centre can continue to thrive and be enjoyed for generations to come.

"Our expert team has worked hard to arrive at a highly efficient and deliverable design programme, based on feedback from our residents and other stakeholders as part of our public consultation, that not only provides fantastic new amenity for the local community but also creates new commercial opportunities for the town.

“Chorley town centre already has great things to offer, with high street stores and local independent retailers and great food and drink establishments and I have no doubt that this new investment will catapult Chorley even further as one of the best places to live, work and visit.”

The three projects are expected to cost circa £44m, with £21.75 million provided from the UK Government and the remaining funding to be met as part of a long term investment plan by Chorley Council. 

The council is now engaging a tender process for the Civic Square project with a view to appointing contractors by the end of May 2025 for works to commence later in the year. It is currently assessing alternative car parking opportunities in the town to support provision during the construction period.

The professional team supporting the Council in the delivery of the project includes jtp architects, Stantec, Gosling Consulting Ltd, The Environment Partnership, Building Design Partnership, Newmark, Complete Sustainability, Waldeck Consulting and Trebbi Continuum.

For more information visit https://chorley.gov.uk/towncentreimprovements