08 August 2008
Ambitious Burscough regeneration project short-listed for
award
Burscough town centre regeneration project has been short-listed
for a prestigious award.
The ambitious £11.5m initiative to revitalise the town centre
has a chance of winning the North West Royal Town Planning
Institute Planning Achievement Award 2008.
West Lancashire District Council entered the premier awards,
which recognise the diversity of planning achievement. They look
beyond purely physical outcomes to recognise innovative plans,
processes, techniques, information systems, programmes of community
involvement and improvements to public services.
The District Council decided to enter the awards because of the
quality of the design of the public realm works and because the
project has injected life into Burscough and has strengthened the
local economy by implementing a series of environmental and visual
improvements to the town centre. It has given Burscough back its
sense of identity, making residents proud of their town and
creating a place where people want to shop and spend their leisure
time.
On top of the visual enhancements, there has also been the
creation of 135 jobs.
Cllr Adrian Owens, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and
Estates, said: “There are many unique and intricate details within
this fantastic regeneration project that photographs cannot do
justice. For example, inscriptions on the clock tower, bespoke
paving schemes, lights in the trees, various works of public art to
emphasis Burscough’s distinct history and traditions, the
illumination of the Grade II listed St John the Baptist Church,
improved access, a new public square for the town, better
landscaping, new street furniture and other restoration works.
Community involvement was an important aspect, which is evident in
the end results. This project really does deserve to be
acknowledged and so to be short listed for such a prestigious award
shows that we have achieved success.”
The regeneration scheme, which has been part funded by the NWDA,
via the West Lancashire Strategic Partnership’s Investing in
Business Regeneration Programme, will be visited by the judges on
Monday, August 11th.
Head of Development at the NWDA, Paul Lakin, said: “To be
short-listed for such a prestigious award is excellent news and I
am sure that the judges will agree that Burscough can boast an
impressive town centre which residents should be proud of.
“A high quality town centre helps to drive forward economic
regeneration, by retaining and attracting more visitors to the
town, creating jobs and by improving private sector
confidence.
“The NWDA has been delighted to support this project and I would
like to wish Burscough the very best of luck.”
For more information about the Burscough town centre
redevelopment, visit the council’s website www.westlancsdc.gov.uk/regeneration.
If you would like any more details about this press release or
would like to arrange an interview, please contact Nicky Speed in
the PR Unit on 01695 585 011.