Botany Bay under major revamp (From Chorley Citizen)

Botany Bay under major revamp

2:44pm Thursday 3rd January 2013 in Chorley By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter

AN ICONIC Chorley landmark could undergo a major development over the next 15 years.

Botany Bay shopping outlet could become home to hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars under the scheme.

The massive development has been earmarked for the site under the new Chorley Local Plan and will also include a new bus service to Botany Bay, and a new bridge over the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.

A spokesman for Chorley Council said: “The area is visually prominent, steeply sloping in part and will require a well-designed scheme that responds to the sites context and makes the most of environmental, heritage and leisure assets.

“Development on the M61 Botany Bay site should comprise a mix of uses to take advantage of the site’s prominence, accessibility and existing retail use.

"Any proposed development must make a positive contribution to the local environment and consider the site’s form and character making positive use of features such as the Leeds-Liverpool Canal which runs through the central part of the site.

“Development must be of a high-quality design using construction methods and materials that make a positive contribution to design quality, character and appearance.

“In light of the mix of uses proposed, the site’s natural features and relationship to surrounding uses, development is likely to come forward in a number of distinct phases.”

The council has now asked for a master-plan from developers to set out detailed plans for the site.

However, the scheme has attracted opposition from Lancashire County Council.

In a report to the county council’s cabinet, planning officers said they had concerns about the impact the retail element of the proposal would have on businesses in Chorley town centre.