An ambitious scheme to regenerate Runcorn town centre has won the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT) Shaping Places for People award.
Reconnecting Runcorn was granted £23.6m from the government’s ‘levelling up’ Towns Fund.
This investment planning in Cheshire aims to introduce new business, housing and cultural opportunities. More specifically, it includes proposals to revive the town’s waterways, set up a skills and innovation centre, renovate The Brindley performing arts theatre, construct new homes and introduce a new youth centre and health hub.
The Runcorn Town Investment Plan is being led by Halton Borough Council, in conjunction with other local bodies including the NHS Trust, Halton Housing, Riverside College, A Place for Us, Hazlehurst Creative Studios, Runcorn Locks Restoration Society, Mako Create and Wat Phra Singh Buddhist Temple.
The award category commends work that drives economic growth with a socially inclusive agenda, supporting youth, sustainability and preventative health, enhanced transport links, better housing and environmental improvement in addition to upgraded tourist attractions.
This follows on from the earlier regeneration of The Heath Business and Technical Park by EcoResponsive Environments (an architectural practice contracted by developer SOG Group), which was named winner of the ‘Small Masterplans’ category in the National Urban Design Awards 2023.
The mixed-use Heath Park development is an established science and business park built around strong ecological values, in a net-zero carbon site. One of the key features of the scheme is an innovative vertical hydrogen-powered farm, designed to produce healthy, net-zero food for the local community.
