Warrington Borough Council’s flagship £107m Bridge Street Quarter project took another positive step forward this week as construction began on the first phase.
This first phase comprises a new 25,500 sq. ft. retail shell which will become the temporary home for Warrington’s award-winning market whilst the new, permanent £10 million market hall is being constructed. The temporary market shell will then be converted into future retail use.
The Bridge Street Quarter Regeneration Scheme – that has been driven and will be delivered by Warrington & Co. on behalf of Warrington Borough Council with development manager Muse Developments – will create up to 400 construction jobs and 400 new permanent jobs in the leisure, retail and restaurant sectors when the whole project is fully completed in 2019.
When completed, the development will comprise a state-of-the-art, 13 screen, 2,500 seat, multiplex Cineworld cinema, a new 42,000 sq. ft. market hall, several family restaurants, a new 1,100 space multi-storey car park, new Council offices, retail units and a new public square.
Leader of Warrington Borough Council Councillor Terry O’Neill said: “The construction of the temporary market is such an integral part of the Bridge Street Regeneration Project as it will provide our market traders with the setting they need to continue trading whilst WBC deliver the brand new, permanent market hall building.”
David Burkinshaw, Development Director at Muse Developments, said: “Commencing construction on this next phase marks another major milestone for the Bridge Street Quarter project. Importantly it will facilitate the relocation of the market, paving the way for the wider leisure, retail and office scheme to be realised.”