JILTED developers have come up with a new plan to redevelop New Brighton.
Neptune is submitting a separate planning application to revamp the Floral Pavilion theatre and clinch £9m of public funding which was feared lost when the original plans were turned down by the government.
The application is seen as a £17m first phase of what would still be a total facelift for the resort.
The Town Square development is to include a £9m refurbishment of the theatre, adding a conference centre, a block of apartments and retail space.
Details of the scheme are still being drawn up, ahead of meetings by external funding bodies including the NWDA and Mersey Waterfront Regional Park.
Steve Parry, managing director of Neptune Developments, said: "We remain fully committed to the comprehensive regeneration of New Brighton as the submission of this planning application demonstrates.
"The Floral Pavilion theatre is one of the resort's greatest assets. Closure due to poor condition would be a major blow."
Liverpool-based Neptune had been chosen by Wirral council as its "preferred developer" for the scheme which included a new marine lakeand model boating lake, flats, out-door lido, newrestaurant/wine bar quarter, the renovation of the theatre, leisure and recreation areas and anew super-store.
The most contentious element of the plan was to fill in the marine lake to build a supermarket and apartment block.
div>
According to planning experts, Neptune could re-submit an application.
Leslie Parker-Davies, chairman of the New Brighton Heritage Action Group set up to oppose the scheme, said: "This comes as a pleasant surprise. Things are moving in the right direction, and it seems Neptune have been listening."
source.....
Bookmarks