PHASE 1 OF NEW SKELMERSDALE TOWN CENTRE ON ITS WAY!

Detailed plans for the first phase of a new Skelmersdale town centre are to be revealed by regeneration specialist St. Modwen in early 2012.

The announcement follows a Skelmersdale Summit meeting on Friday 16th December, where developer St. Modwen, with the Homes and Communities Agency and West Lancashire Borough Council, met with West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper.

At the meeting the exciting new proposals, which will kick-start the regeneration of Skelmersdale town centre, were discussed. The plans will deliver high quality, improved shopping, leisure and community facilities and feature a supermarket, cinema and restaurants.

The scheme will create vital links between the new development, the Concourse Shopping Centre and the brand new West Lancashire College, spreading the benefits of the investment across the whole town.

Michelle Taylor, regional director of St Modwen, said: “The vision for a dramatically improved Skelmersdale town centre has been kept alive throughout the recession. We are excited to now be in a position to move forward with ambitious proposals that are realistic in the current economic climate.

“The people of Skelmersdale have been very patient while we have been working closely with our partners WLBC and the HCA to devise a fitting scheme for the town centre. The proposals will represent the best possible plan for Skelmersdale’s future prosperity and a catalyst towards long-term change, through investment, job creation and vastly improved facilities for the community. We are looking forward to revealing full details in the New Year.”

Cllr Ian Grant, Leader of West Lancashire Borough Council, said: “We’ve been working hard with all our partners to deliver a town centre which Skelmersdale and West Lancashire can be proud of. I am looking forward to the announcement of further details, which will reveal an exciting project for our borough. This marks the next stage in the project which will involve public consultation and a subsequent planning application.”

Deborah McLaughlin, Executive Director North West for the HCA, said: “The proposed plan for this mixed-use development is great news for Skelmersdale, which has been the focus of efforts to rejuvenate the area for some time. It’s thanks to the dedication and long-term commitment from all partners involved that this scheme looks set to become a reality. We will remain focused on supporting these plans that will allow this important regeneration project to progress.”

West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper said: “These plans are a new beginning for Skelmersdale, with phase one of a town centre that Skelmersdale residents deserve. When the initial plans for the town centre were being discussed, a resident told me that Skelmersdale has had more visions than St Bernadette. I was determined that this one would happen, even in the face of the most difficult economic times. Now we have a plan, we need to get on with it because residents have waited long enough.

“With phase one of a new town centre on its way and a new college the Skelmersdale of 2012 onwards will begin to match the ambitions and aspirations of its residents.”