WARRINGTON’S Time Square project is set to take a major step forward when the Borough Council’s executive board meets next Tuesday (May 23) to appoint a contractor.
The executive board will consider a report detailing a fixed price, multi-million pound contract for the preferred contractor to construct a multiplex cinema, restaurants units, permanent market hall, council offices and public square.
The name of the successful contractor will be announced in the coming weeks following conclusion of legal formalities and works will commence later this Summer.
Professor Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of Warrington Borough Council, said: “The transformational Time Square scheme is set to revitalise Warrington’s town city centre bringing an attractive, family friendly, leisure, restaurant and shopping offer which will complement Warrington’s successful Golden Square.
When open in 2019 the completed project will comprise a Cineworld multiplex cinema, several restaurants, a market hall that will incorporate the listed former Boots building façade, new civic offices, a new public square and the 1160 space multi storey car park that is already nearing completion’.
The building that will become a temporary home for the market is currently being fitted out and the market will relocate to that location in August.
The report outlines how the scheme has grown considerably in ambition and size since its original inception. Notably the cinema, has increased from the original proposal for an eight screen to a thirteen screen multiplex with Superscreen resulting in an increased overall cost of the development. There has also been a cost increase as a result of current global trading conditions, though on completion in 2019 the scheme will continue to create significant income for Warrington Borough Council at similar levels as have been previously reported.
Work commenced on the construction of Time Square in 2015. The scheme is being developed by Warrington & Co. on behalf of Warrington Borough Council, with development partner Muse.
3 Comments
CABE refused to support the plans – now the ‘overbearing’ cinema is to be increased in size! unbelievable!
Who do they think is going to go to this type of cinema? prices will be expensive for most Warrington families.
Since large screen TV’s the Cinema industry has been in decline – this could be Warrington’s biggest ‘white elephant’ yet!
I really hope no public money is being used to subsidise this!
is it me or do things seem to be back to front here. Naive as i am i always thought that a contractor was appointed before any work was carried out not halfway into the project.
Why has the project now grown, apart from councils ambition that is, and how much extra is all this going to cost.
It will cost more be bigger but the income will be the same so in effect we will be getting less benefit than from the original project.
Still if we become city of culture we will be able to boast about our thirteen screen cinema helping towards achieving it.
CABE refused to support the 2010 version of the plans, do you actually believe they are still the same? Also, was CABE endorsement a requirement or just a nice thing to have?