Skip to main content

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.

New Northwich Market

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 

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 2.5 weeks to complete. This phase is focused around the Apple Market Place open space and the market car park.
  • 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.
  • Phase C will commence around 6 October 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.