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Local Centre Re-development
Compulsory Purchase Order – Update 2008

The public inquiry was held on 2nd and 3rd October at Halton Stadium.  However, the decision on the Compulsory Purchase Order is still awaited from Government Office for the North West.

The planning application for the scheme was approved at planning committee on 22nd October 2007.  The scheme will see the construction of a new community centre, 8 retail units and 39 flats as well as a new public square. Work is now anticipated to start on site in Summer 2008.

Phase 1 of the Village Square, which is the construction by CDS, of 24 flats for rent commenced in November 2007.

Awards

Regional Property Awards 2007 - Phoenix Park Pavilion was the winner of the ‘Best Partnership Award’ in recognition of the work that had been carried out with the community in the development of the pavilion and the park.  The pavilion provides not only a base for the park gardener and rangers but is superb facility to hold meetings and community events.  Designed by HOT architects, the building is in the hillside but has great views of the facilities and is a beacon for the gateway to the park.

Green Apple Award – The far-sighted renewal programme for the Castlefields area in Runcorn has received a public accolade from the prestigious Green Organisation. It has acknowledged the success of the scheme by the presentation of a Silver Award for Environmental Best Practice & Sustainable Development.  Chris Leyshon and Sarah Lucas from the Castlefields Regeneration Team received the award at the Houses of Parliament from Professor David Bellamy on behalf of the Castlefields Regeneration Partnership.  The Green Apple Awards aim to recognise, reward and promote the best examples of environmental best practice and sustainable development as demonstrated by local authorities, commerce & industry and communities, both in the UK and around the world.

RTPI Awards – In addition, the Castlefields scheme received a commendation at the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) North West awards in October 2007 and was short-listed for a RTPI National Award in February 2008.

Arts Strategy

Public Art Wales has been commissioned to produce an Arts Strategy for Castlefields, which will identify how art can be integrated into the regeneration programme.  As part of the process extensive consultation was carried out with the community to see what type of art they would like to see and where it should be located.  The strategy is due for completion in March 2008.
An initial project is being undertaken working on improving the subways at Plantation Close and Woodlands Walk. An artist has been commissioned to work with the local schools to develop pieces of art, which will be located in the subways.

Local Centre Re-development

Compulsory Purchase Order: The Process Continues

The Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) required to take possession of the existing local centre so that it can be redeveloped, was made by Halton Borough Council on 29th March 2007 and subsequently served on 5th April 2007.

Notice of the making of the CPO has been served on the owners of the businesses affected by the CPO, together with anyone who has been identified as having a specific interest in the land comprised within the CPO area.  Notices have also been posted up at various locations around the CPO area and the making of the CPO has been advertised in the local press on 5th April and will be adverised again on 12th April 2007.

Copies of the CPO and supporting documentation are availble for inspection by members of the public until 3rd May 2007 at the following locations:-

1. Halton Borough Council, Municipal Building, Kingsway, Widnes
2. Halton Borough Council, Runcorn Town Hall, Heath Road, Runcorn
3. English Partnerships, Arpley House, 110 Birchwood Boulevard, Birchwood, Warrington
4. The Community Centre, Castlefields, Runcorn
5. Halton Direct Link - Halton Lea, Rutland House, Halton Lea Shopping Centre, Runcorn

Anyone wishing to submit an objection to the CPO should write to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government at the offices of the Government Offices for the North West, Planning Team, City Tower, Piccadily Plaza, Manchester, M1 4BE before 3rd May 2007.

In the event that objections are received, a public inquiry will be arranged at which objectors to the CPO will be given the opportunity to make representations before an inspector appointed by the Planning Inspectorate.

Outline planning permission has already been obtained for the redevelopment proposals underpinning the CPO.  It is anticipated that an application for approval of the detail of these proposals will be submitted to the local planning authority in summer of this year.

If you would like more information about the Village Square proposals, the CPO proceedings or the planning process, please contact the Castlefields Team on 0151 907 8381.

Castlefields Regeneration Programme chosen to share its secret for success!

The Castlefields Regeneration Programme has been chosen as one of RENEW Northwest's five Exemplar Learning Projects for 2007.

The RENEW Northwest Exemplar Learning Programme, now in it's third year, ensures that lessons learnt from delivering groundbreaking regeneration projects are shared with the 15,000 regeneration practitioners working across the region.  RENEW Northwest is the Regional Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Communities, commissioned by Government anf funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency, to improve skills and quality of regeneration professionals to deliver sustainable communities. More

Cycleway Opening:

10th Janaury 2007 saw the official opening of the new cycleway/pedestrian link through Castlefields.  The cycleway was officially opened by the Worshipful the Mayor of Halton, Councillor John Swain. 

Halton Borough Council has created a cycle and pedestrian network from Windmill Hill through Castlefields to Halton Brow as well as providing improved links to local employment areas.  The project aim is to encourage residents to cycle and walk by providing a safer environment with new lighting and improved landscaping.

The project has been made possible by the contribution from the European Union providing funding of £285,000 through a grant from the European Regional Development Fund.  Other funding was provided by Halton Borough Council, whose contribution included Local Transport Plan funding and by English Partnerships.

 

Castlefields Scoops Major Award:

The Castlefields Regeneration Programme has scooped a major award at this years UK Housing Awards, held on 9th November 2006 in London.  The theme for this years awards was 'Excellence Matters'.  Castlefields topped a short-list of 5 other projects, selected from over 30 other entires in the category and pick up the award for 'Excellence in Delivering Regeneration'.

Sponsored by the Chartered Institute of Housing and Inside Housing Magazine, the UK Housing Awards showcases excellence across the whole of the housing sector.

The award recognises the achievements of the Partners delivering the programme - Halton Borough Council, English Partnerships, The Housing Corporation, CDS Housing and Liverpool Housing Trust.

The engagement of local residents in the regeneration programme has been crucial to its success and the Partners will be ensuring that this continues into the future.

This award is for everyone who is working to regenerate Castlefields.

Councillor Rob Polhill, Executive Board member for Regeneration said: "This is great news for everyone concerned in the project, but perhaps most importantly, it shows how all the agencies have worked together with local people to create the kind of development that they actually want.

"We're delighted to win this award, which shows that we are creating a new confidence in Castlefields".

Funding go-ahead for Castlefields:

A FURTHER £7m of investment into the regeneration of the Castlefields Estate in Runcorn has been announced by the Housing Corporation. This will bring total Housing Corporation funding up to over £20 million and extend the regeneration beyond the original Masterplan period to April 2009 .

This second phase of funding will part finance the construction of a further 150 high quality dwellings - like the award-winning Waterbridge Mews, winner of the prestigious Regional Property Award for Partnership Development, and lead to the demolition of an additional 150 deck access flats. Posted on April 12, 2006 More

Award for The Castlefields Regeneration Partnership: Castlefields Partnership member CDS Housing fronted a winning application for the RBS Best Partnership Project award at the Daily Post & Echo Regional Property Awards 2006. The winning development, a striking scheme of mixed tenure housing at Waterbridge Mews, Runcorn, is a major feather in the cap of the Castlefields Partnership which is spending over £100 million to regenerate the Runcorn New Town estate. The award was presented by designer and urban regeneration champion Wayne Hemingway at Liverpool’s Crowne Plaza hotel on Monday, 3 April 2006.

Cllr. Rob Polhill, Halton Borough Council's Executive Board Member for Planning, Transportation and Urban Renewal, was thrilled at the award. "The regeneration of Castlefields was a massive scheme for the Partners to take on. This award recognises that we are doing it in the right way, and providing a quality legacy for the future." Posted on April 10, 2006 More

Opening, 4th June: Phoenix Park, your state-of-the-art Youth Activity Park is nearing completion.

Unfortunately the bad weather experienced in recent months has slowed down progress and prevented the Council from opening the Skate Park, climbing boulder and new pedestrian routes across the Park. The Young People’s Play Area, on the other hand, is now open to the public and is proving extremely popular. Over 200 children enjoyed using it in one day over the recent half term.

Stewart Kellett, Regional Director of Sport England North West said: “This fantastic facility will become a real focal point for sport in Halton - helping more young people from all backgrounds to get active. This is key in Sport England’s drive to widen access and improve opportunities for people in the North West to start, stay and succeed in sport.”

The official opening for the Phoenix Park will be held on 4 th June 2006, and a variety of events are being arranged to celebrate the opening of the new community facility. Please look out for further details of this event in your local press or contact the Castlefields team on 0151 907 8381 for more information . Posted on March 24, 2006

Castlefields Village Square: English Partnerships, Halton Borough Council and Plus Housing Group have formed a partnership, and together with Liverpool Housing Trust are dedicated to transforming the Castlefields local centre. The objective is to improve the services currently on offer including community facilities, shops, health care and public amenity space.

Thanks to everyone who attended the Village Square consultation event held in the Pastoral Centre on 16 th March. The event was a great success and it was very useful to hear your thoughts on the proposals.

The Partnership values close consultation with the community and wants local people to continue to participate in the decision making process through out the duration of the project. Posted on March 10, 2006 More

Name Your Park Competition Winner - Throughout October Halton Borough Council held a competition to find a name for the new youth activity park in Castlefields, which is being built as part of the Castlefields Regeneration Programme. The park, located between Castlefields and Windmill Hill, is due to open in Spring 2006. It will contain a wide range of facilities including a skate park, a climbing boulder, a grassed football area, two children’s play areas and a large picnic area with views across the lake.

Over 3,000 leaflets were delivered to residents in Castlefields and Windmill Hill and to the Community Centre and local schools.

The closing date for the competition was 27 th October and over 180 entries were received. A panel of judges selected “Phoenix” as the winning entry which was suggested by Marie Bracegirdle, aged 9 from Castlefields. Marie picked this name as the park is being built on the site of the former Norton Priory School, which was burnt down – and so the Phoenix is rising from the ashes.

Marie was presented with £50 worth of high street vouchers from Councillors Arthur Cole, Rob Polhill and Ellen Cargil. Posted on September 17, 2005

Competition Leaflet