Buckley town centre could be transformed under new regeneration plans

The appearance of one of Flintshire’s largest town centres could be transformed under new plans to regenerate the economy. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Buckley is one of the next locations in the county in line for improvements to its main shopping area following similar work being carried out in Flint, Holywell and Mold. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Flintshire Council is looking to appoint consultants to draw up a new blueprint for a key part of the town. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The area under consideration to be redesigned is bordered by Brunswick Road, running from the Cross to the junction with Precinct Way and down to Aldi. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Officials from the local authority said the aim was to boost the number of visitors to the town. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In a tender notice published on the Sell2Wales procurement website, they said: “Buckley has benefitted from street works schemes and pedestrianisation in previous years, but has experienced challenging trading conditions, despite a large resident population around the periphery of the town centre. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“This specification for cost estimates for a suggested design brief is focussed upon increasing footfall, dwell time, and breathing new life into Buckley by engaging people with a mix of quality street design, green space, and blending with the surrounding retail and residential use. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Drawing upon the mix of retailers, and taking into consideration pedestrianised and non-pedestrianised options, this project involves re-imagining and re-designing the outlined area into two detailed design plan options, in line with guidance, and envisioning ways to encourage residents, and visitors, to engage with the area.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

One Buckley community leader previously voiced fears that the town had been left out of plans to revitalise the area’s high streets. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Speaking at a meeting in May, Cllr Dennis Hutchinson claimed no interest had been shown by the authority, despite Buckley being hit hard by the loss of its last bank in 2018. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It led to a rebuttal of the accusations by Cllr Derek Butler, the council’s cabinet member for economic development, who said it had supported Buckley Town Council in developing a long term action plan to attract more businesses. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Consultants are being given until the middle of the month to bid for the contract to redesign the town centre, with the successful party expected to be revealed in September. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Liam Randall – Local Democracy Reporter (more here). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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