TOWN planners believe a new £16 million building could be the catalyst for reviving the fortunes of Ellesmere Port.

Designs for Cheshire West and Chester Council’s proposed public services hub, which will be built where the bus station currently is in Civic Way, went on display at the Port Arcades last week – along with plans for a replacement bus station.

The idea is to bring services such as the council, Jobcentre Plus and the Work Zone into one state-of-the-art building so residents can get all the advice they need in one visit to town.

And by bringing both residents and public sector workers into one place at the heart of Ellesmere Port, CWaC hopes the move can provide a boost for town centre retailers and cafes.

Alison Armstrong, CWaC’s localities manager for Ellesmere Port, said: “Ellesmere Port, like a lot of town centres, is facing a lot of challenges.

“A lot of the shops are struggling to keep afloat and people aren’t getting the kind of services that they want within the town centre.

“What we are trying to do with the proposals here is to generate some interest in the town centre, to develop new facilities, to bring people together in one place.”

The new hub and bus station form part of a masterplan to transform Ellesmere Port, which went out to public consultation last autumn.

It includes the demolition of existing CWaC offices, in Civic Way, with staff to move into the hub – which follows a similar model to Wyvern House, in Winsford, which was relaunched as a public services hub last year.

Alison says Wyvern House has been ‘a huge success’ – but the new Ellesmere Port hub has the potential to be even better.

“With Winsford it was putting those facilities into an existing building and there were restrictions behind that,” she said.

“Because this is a new-build it gives us that blank sheet of paper to create a space where services can come together, integrate and work seamlessly for residents.”

Around half of the cost for the new hub is being met by the Local Growth Fund, Government cash which is provided through the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership.

But ahead of last month’s local elections, Conservative council candidates raised concerns about the costs of building the new site – expected to be more than £16 million over the next three years.

“There are a number of dimensions to this,” Alison said.

“The council is in existing premises that is a 1960s build, life-expired, and therefore we’re facing increasing maintenance costs just to keep the building safe for the people who are working there and visiting it.

“It’s also not terribly efficient, so in terms of the current emphasis on the environment, it’s not an environmentally-friendly building.

“The council has committed to putting capital funding into this scheme and decanting out of the existing building will generate savings – so it will pay for itself from the council’s point of view over time.”

The hub is part of a wider 15-year vision for Ellesmere Port, which is expected to generate £2.8 billion of development.

Almost £1.2 billion worth of development has already come to fruition since 2011 – including 2,600 jobs being created, and planning consent for 5,550 homes.

Meanwhile, the demolition of the old Civic Way council offices will free up land for redevelopment, including new affordable homes.

Alison hopes the hub can play a key role in making sure residents and workers can enjoy an improved Ellesmere Port town centre in the years to come.

She said: “Where the hub is going to be, on the existing bus station site, it is right on the doorstep of Port Arcades.

“Staff need somewhere to shop, to get their lunch, to grab a coffee, so we do want to encourage staff to come into the Port Arcades, to spend their money in the town, to support the local retailers that are here, but also to create that demand for other retailers coming in.

“Again, if we create more houses, that’s bringing more people into the town centre.

“We don’t want people living and working in the town having to go further afield to get what they want. If they can get everything they need from a shopping point of view locally, then that is ideal.”

Ellesmere Port’s market will be kept as part of the regeneration plans, and Alison wants to see the market continue to grow as ‘one of the jewels in the crown’ of the town.

The consultation, which took place last autumn, also revealed a desire for more things to see and do in Ellesmere Port – particularly in the evening.

Alison said: “We know in Ellesmere Port that come 5.30pm the place closes down, if you want to go out for something to eat or drink there really isn’t anywhere.

“I think there is still a place for retail, but we are hearing that people want more food and beverage type facilities, more places to go and grab a coffee during the day or to meet with friends in the evening.

“We are also very keen in terms of the cultural offer that Ellesmere Port has – people have told us very strongly that they value the Civic Hall and they value the library buildings.

“So they will stay as part of the masterplan, but we want to look at how we can improve the cultural and entertainment offer out of those facilities – so Ellesmere Port has a lot to offer, not just to shop.”

After CWaC declared its climate emergency last month, environmental concerns are at the forefront of decisions being made by the authority – and it hopes the new bus station will help convince more visitors to leave the car at home.

Alison added: “The existing bus station site is too big for what is needed. Buses don’t terminate here in Ellesmere Port, it is very much through services between Liverpool and Chester, so we are trying to create a more flexible facility that enables buses to flow through.

“It will basically improve the welcome for people coming into Ellesmere Port – with new bus stands, with new technology, safer spaces, more comfortable and bigger stands that are fully enclosed so people are protected from the wind and the rain, and real-time traffic information.

“So it is just trying to improve what people currently have in Ellesmere Port, the bus station here hasn’t been invested in for some time, so this new facility will really bring it up to speed in terms of modern technology.

“And hopefully, that will attract people back into the town centre as well.”

  • To view the plans for the hub and the bus station, visit ellesmereportdevelopment.co.uk.