As Macclesfield dies, Congleton booms

Above: The next phase of the Congleton Market Quarter Container Village

Macclesfield residents, short-changed in development funding by Cheshire East for many years, will be overjoyed to hear of the council’s latest plans for Congleton.

The council is planning to revitalise Congleton town centre by creating ‘a vibrant hub where people can live, work, and play’. Phase two of the Congleton Market Quarter Container Village is pencilled in for an official launch in March 2025.

The Market Quarter Group is behind the plans which will see 12 retail and workspace units created.

Possibly as a result of the £ mulitmillion investment in the town Congleton has experienced a 44 % increase in town centre footfall – as of July this year – compared to pre-Covid levels.

Meetings with potential tenants for the new units in phase two are underway and demand is said to be extremely high.

Nick Hynes, partner at Market Quarter Group, said: “We have seen first-hand with our inception project, the ‘Congleton Market Quarter’, how community-focused regeneration and development can directly impact the economic growth of the town centre which has allowed for our progression into Phase 02 of the project.

“We set out to do things differently, with a razor-sharp focus on creating something more impactful and sustainable than the development itself. This has instilled a renewed interest and purpose in the town centre. Within six months, we’ve seen the high street’s footfall increase by 44%, and we’re confident that occupation levels will follow.”

He added: “Long-term project sustainability is at the heart of what we do, with an ambition to drive a collective goal in our community. It is an opportunity for people to take ownership of the spaces they love, honouring their history and heritage while engaging with them in a modern and relevant way.”

Meanwhile in Macclesfield, the town centre continues in freefall – with the condition of our once-vibrant town becoming something of a national laughing stock.