Weaver Square
We are working to create a more vibrant and sustainable town centre for Northwich that reflects changed public shopping habits, and Weaver Square is at the heart of this strategy.
As a vital part of the Northwich Development Framework, the proposal for Weaver Square is to demolish empty shops and buildings that are no longer fit for purpose and deliver new modern, affordable and sustainable town centre living. Over 100 new homes will be part of a mixed-use development with public spaces and supporting infrastructure.
We will also relocate the current Northwich Market to Barons Quay as part of the Weaver Square regeneration scheme.
These plans will bring additional footfall and spend into the heart of the town centre, whilst at the same time refocusing the retail offer around the traditional shopping area of Witton Street and High Street and the modern retail and leisure development at Barons Quay. It is hoped that the new residential community will increase town centre footfall, support existing businesses, help to attract new investment, and give a welcome boost to the evening economy.
We cannot deliver on this vision alone and have now chosen a preferred development partner who will work with us and key stakeholders to deliver positive changes for Northwich. The development partner will work with the community to co-produce a masterplan, putting the aspirations of local people at the centre of the new development.
Progress to date
Site Investigations were completed to understand more about the current ground conditions before any potential future building works can begin.
Buildings at Weaver Square are currently lightweight, low-rise and many are vacant and past their useful life. There was a need to understand more about how much weight the ground will be able to sustain to inform what type of development can take place at the site.
The Site Investigation report has now been received and whilst there would appear to be some legacy issues that require further expert assessment and remediation, the site has significant potential.
The Northwich Development Framework was endorsed by Cabinet. This sets out the vision for Northwich town centre, and key design considerations for the redevelopment of Weaver Square. It ensures that future development in Weaver Square will integrate into the wider town centre and will support any future external funding applications.
The Northwich Development Framework also supports the delivery of a new modern indoor market in Barons Quay with an al fresco area to act as a key anchor for the development and to draw footfall down towards the river and through Barons Quay.
Following Cabinet approval on 31 July 2024, a decision was made to progress with the appointment of a preferred development partner for the Weaver Square site. The preferred development partner will need to demonstrate a solid understanding of the opportunities in Northwich, a good track record in local authority partnering, development expertise and strong financial standing to form a long-term collaborative relationship with us to deliver the best outcome for the site.
Securing a preferred development partner will enable us to issue a brief for the Weaver Square site, enabling it to work with the partner to secure a high-quality regeneration scheme, whilst keeping an element of control over the final scheme design.
We are fully committed to engagement with residents and key town centre stakeholders over the designs at each stage of the development process.
In November 2024 the procurement process was launched utilising the PAGABO Developer-led framework, a UK based procurement framework designed for public sector organisations to procure construction and development partners in a compliant and efficient way. This exercise started with engagement presentations with the developers on the framework, an expressions of interest stage and dialogue sessions, before a formal brief was later issued in February 2025.
The Northwich Information Centre is closed to enable the progression of Weaver Square project.
The Resident Assistant Point has been relocated to Northwich Memorial Court. Signage has been implemented to re-direct customers from the Weaver Square location to Northwich Memorial Court, display opening hours at Northwich Memorial Court and branding for the new location.
The move to the new location in Northwich Memorial Court will provide customers with a welcoming space within their local community. Customers currently visit the Northwich Resident Assistance Point to access services such as Blue Badges, Concessionary Travel, Housing, Benefits and Council Tax. Opening hours will remain the same. More information can be found on our Memorial Court page.
Our CCTV for Northwich town centre is successfully relocated from the Northwich Information Centre to Northwich Memorial Court.
This new installation uses the latest digital technology offering a powerful tool to enhance the safety of the public. The digital cameras supply the CCTV Control Room in Chester with a high quality, real time monitoring system, enabling more accurate incident detection and improved support of emergency response. The solution negates the need for BT analogue lines as it uses wireless technology reducing the overall annual costs.
Following Cabinet approval on 9 July 2025, a decision has been made to appoint VINCI UK Developments Ltd as our preferred development partner for the redevelopment of Weaver Square in Northwich. This recommendation is on the basis that delivery would be subcontracted to a Joint Venture between VINCI UK Developments Ltd and ION Property Developments Ltd (VINCI/ ION).
VINCI/ ION clearly evidenced through the procurement process that they are a strong development partnership with a good track record in local authority partnering, development expertise and strong financial standing to form a long-term collaborative relationship with us and other stakeholders to deliver the best outcome for the site.
A key strength of the VINCI/ ION submission was their commitment around engagement. This includes opportunities for local residents, local businesses and key stakeholders in the town to help shape the emerging proposals.
September 2025 – Weaver Square Phase 2 Site Investigations
- Site investigations are taking place across the Weaver Square site from 1 September 2025
- These Phase 2 Site Investigations are supplementary to those completed in 2023
- Northwich is a town with a proud salt mining heritage, which means that these site investigations are vital to learn more about the current ground conditions before any potential future building works can begin
- Buildings at Weaver Square are currently lightweight and low-rise. There is a need to understand more about how much weight the ground will be able to sustain to inform what type of development can take place at the site.
- These ground conditions will influence the design of any future development, for example in the height and density of buildings
- The site has been divided into three zones (A, B and C) and the investigations will move across the site in this order. It is expected that the intrusive works will take approximately seven weeks to complete, but as a guide:
- Phase A will commence on 1 September 2025 and is anticipated to take around 2 weeks to complete. This phase is focused around the Apple Market Place open space and the market car park. There may also be some minor works in Phase C (including set up of compound, vegetation clearance and trial pits) at this time.
- Phase B will commence around 8 September 2025 and is anticipated to take 3-4 weeks to complete. This phase is focused around the Victoria Club car park. Again there may be some minor works in Phase C (window sample borehole and trial pits) at this time.
- Phase C will commence around 29 September 2025 and is anticipated to 1-2 weeks to complete. This phase is focused around the indoor market and the Weaver Square shopping precinct.
- Drilling within each zone will be staggered. The town centre including the two car parks will remain operational
- The working hours for drilling will be restricted to 8am-5pm on weekdays with no weekend working
More information including further details of the equipment being used on site is set out in our Q&A document (Word, 4.9MB).
Next steps
Following the selection of the preferred developer in July 2025, the next step is to enter into a Pre-Development Agreement.
Additional site investigations will also be instructed as an immediate step to better understand ground conditions as well as the flood risk and drainage strategy for the site. This will supplement the site investigations carried out by us in 2023. Work will also be undertaken to develop an initial concept masterplan and to assess overall scheme viability.
It is expected that this stage of the process will take approximately 9-12 months to complete and there will be opportunities throughout for collaboration and engagement to ensure that the emerging masterplan responds positively to matters that are important locally.
If all parties are satisfied with the outcome of the Pre-Development Agreement stage of the project, it can move forward to the signing of a Development Agreement where designs will be further developed, a planning application will be submitted, and delivery will commence.