Cannock Chase Council searching for town centre investors
Plans have been drawn up to help kick-start Cannock town centre's "badly needed" revamp by attracting private investors.
Cannock Chase Council will launch its development prospectus in order to showcase the area, which it says is "on the cusp of transformational change"
Council bosses say the town centre has "poor retail offer" and are looking to capitalise on the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet West Midlands, which is currently being built and is due to open in 2020.
A long-term vision would see an upgraded Prince of Wales theatre, a series of high quality cafes and restaurants, a cinema complex, hotel and independent retailers.
But investors are needed to help make the proposals a reality – with the town centre's development prospectus set to be shown to businesses and developers at an event next month.
Councillor Gordon Alcott, deputy council leader and town centre regeneration portfolio leader, said: “Cannock town centre has a poor retail offer and investment and regeneration is badly needed in order to regenerate it.
“It is important that we maximise the benefits of the anticipated three million visitors per year to the the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet West Midlands once it opens and link this with our vision for a culture and leisure hub for the town centre, so that Cannock town centre can also benefit from the increased number of visitors.
“I hope that we get enough developers interested in the identified sites and they can see the potential that the opening of McArthurGlen can be to the Cannock town centre.”
Investors will be able to see how Cannock is changing through the number of developments, with guest speakers explaining the importance of the town.
The plans have been jointly funded by Cannock Chase Council, Staffordshire County Council and the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
It will run at The Premier Suite in Cannock on October 1 from 8.30am until 10am.