WARRINGTON Borough Council must back its town centre ambition with investment to give the private sector the confidence needed to help tackle Bridge Street’s high vacancy rates.

The cabinet has approved the town centre supplementary planning document.

It says Bridge Street, and lower Bridge Street in particular, suffers from high vacancy rates, the ‘mediocre quality’ of some of ground floor frontages and an ‘over concentration’ of food and drink uses.

Meanwhile, the £22 million Town Deal for Warrington will see the Government provide the money to support the council in its ambition to improve the town and make the area more attractive for residents, businesses and visitors.

The aims also include boosting regeneration and helping to revitalise ‘unloved and underused’ buildings, such as those that are vacant, by transforming them into new office space and community hubs.

Cllr Tom Jennings, cabinet member for economic development and innovation, said: “The Warrington Town Deal is focused on investing in a number of underutilised buildings across the borough.

“This ranges from the Pyramid building in the Cultural Quarter to facilities at Warrington Vale Royal College.

“The projects have been subject to consultation over several months and can be accessed for continued comment on the council’s website.”

Cllr Jennings believes the key to tackling the high vacancy rates on Bridge Street initially lies with the council clearly stating its ambition for the town centre and then ‘backing that ambition with a programme of investment’ to give the private sector the confidence they need to invest.

He said: “Business rates are undoubtedly an impediment – however, these are set nationally and are only collected by the council.

“Through the town centre masterplan and more latterly through the supplementary planning document, we have clearly stated our ambition for the town centre – and through schemes such as Time Square and various investments in the Stadium Quarter, along with the ongoing Town Deal, the public sector investment backing is clear to see.

“This is having the desired effect of attracting private sector residential development in the town centre that brings increased footfall which, along with the council’s growth programme, are the core ingredients necessary to attract private sector investment in the high street.

“We are already seeing this with recent renovations in lower Bridge Street with The Grand and on higher Bridge Street with new restaurant offers.”