Regeneration Projects

In July 2024, the Council endorsed a residential led vision, identifying that the comprehensive redevelopment of the site presented an opportunity to meet a need for older people and housing. Bringing these different housing requirements into a single new intergenerational neighborhood could contribute to regenerating and revitalising the town centre. This Vision was informed by a design and development feasibility study, undertaken by Ellis Williams Architects in 2024. The analysis and outcomes from this study has informed this planning brief.

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Pride in Place is a UK-wide grant programme investing up to £20 million over 10 years in neighbourhoods identified by the government as most in need of support. This long-term investment is designed to help communities shape their local area, address priorities, and deliver lasting, positive change.

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This Town Centre Regeneration Framework has been produced to form a set of spatial strategies and deliverables to drive the future of Widnes town centre. It creates an ambitious picture of the future which, with support from partners and stakeholders, can become a deliverable and implementable programme to benefit all who live, work and visit Widnes Town Centre.

The Regeneration Framework is informed by an evidence base which includes: 

• PLACED Widnes Town Centre Engagement Report - This report summarises the feedback from the public engagement programme that engagement specialists PLACED delivered in Widnes Town Centre during October and November 2024; and
• Widnes Town Centre Parking, Active Travel and Movement Study - This report analyses the movement of people through the town centre and identifies interventions that can support its transformation through analysis undertaken by connectivity specialists WSP between September and December 2024.

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Mersey Gateway Project unlocks significant development and Investment opportunities within Halton, the City Region and beyond. This Plan seeks to build on the existing strengths and assets of the local area to continue the physical regeneration and transformation of Halton and further enhance our economic offer. The Plan sets out a cohesive package of development opportunities and identifies the key infrastructure and enabling projects we are looking to bring forward to complement and support growth.

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To maximise the economic benefits created by the Mersey Gateway, Halton Borough Council has produced a ten year physical regeneration plan, Mersey Gateway Regeneration Plus. This document identifies eight areas within Halton, where the new bridge and the reconfigured road network have the potential to open up land and stimulate new development and reposition an area for growth.

Within this plan, Astmoor Industrial estate has been identified as one of these eight places (called impact areas), due to the prominence and accessibility brought by the new crossing. This can act as catalyst to attract new investment and help modernise the estate over coming years, making it a priority for Halton Borough Council.

In November 2018, the Council commissioned a consultant team led by town planners, urban designers, and architects from BDP to develop a Masterplan and Delivery Strategy supported by commercial property consultancy JLL, Curtins (highway engineers), and social value specialist’s EKOSGEN to produce a visionary 5 year regeneration masterplan for Astmoor.

The Masterplan identifies the key strengths and weaknesses of the Estate and consider issues such as how to attract new development and investment into Astmoor and what happens to the land being handed back to Council. It will also seek to identify potential infrastructure improvement projects, such as car parking, landscaping, street lighting and signage.

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The Runcorn Vision is a non-statutory, high level document, which sets out ideas and aspirations for the area. The concepts within it are illustrative only and will be subject to detailed design and consultation moving forward. It does, however, highlight the enormous potential of the area through the delivery of a inspirational Station Quarter around Runcorn station, the delinking of the Silver Jubilee Bridge approach structures, along with improvements to the residential offer, retail core, environment, accessibility and pedestrian linkages.

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In 2019, the government announced a £3.6 billion funding package that will be divided amongst 100 towns England. In Halton, Runcorn was selected and Halton Borough Council can receive up to £25 million to improve the economic prospects of the town. The Town Deal investment plan needs to aim to long term economic growth with a focus on regeneration, improved transport infrastructure, better digital connectivity, skills and culture.

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