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A “once in lifetime” regeneration of Chorley town centre has moved forward with two planning applications officially submitted.
The submissions mark the latest stage of £44m plan to transform the town centre and will ultimately involve the creation of a civic square outside the town hall; new housing being built on the Bengal Street depot; and refurbishment of the council’s Union Street offices.
Levelling Up funding from the government is covering £21.75m of the developments with the rest being inputted by Chorley Borough Council. Assuming planning permission is approved as expected, work is expected to begin later this year.
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The first application proposes the delivery of a mixed-use scheme with the new civic square which is to become a new destination and host major events and public enjoyment. This 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 relates to the Bengal Street site and will involve 62 high-quality, energy efficient homes, including 52 apartments and 10 townhouses with 72 car parking spaces and a landscaped garden area. The depot will be relocated to Common Bank Industrial Estate.
A third project 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 says it 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 public consultation where more than 70 per cent of participants expressed overall support for the plans with a desire to see investment to enhance town centre facilities, affordable housing and attract more visitors.
Councillor 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 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.
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