Masterplanning strategy for Macclesfield town centre

Challenge

SLR's Place team were appointed by Cheshire East Council to prepare a masterplanning strategy for the centre of Macclesfield. Once the largest centre for finished silk goods in the world, Macclesfield has a fine built heritage. It sits as a gateway to the stunning landscape of the Peak District and enjoys strong rail links to Manchester, Birmingham and London. Despite these assets strong the town centre has seen a gradual decline with a series of stalled development schemes over recent years.

Solution

The framework is intended to address this, positioning the centre to thrive in an era of shifting retail patterns. A key feature has been to identify residential development sites to repopulate the heart of the town as well as public realm improvements that can support local independent traders and cultural events whilst also reducing car dominance to create a more welcoming environment for all visitors.

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