First look at new community centre as £80m plans take shape

Housing association Riverside is redeveloping Palace Fields and as part of the plans will  construct a 264 sq m centre, with local charity Four Estates delivering a range of services and initiatives from the new space.

Four Estates will host a pantry, lunch clubs, fun days, coffee and cake socials, free pre-loved clothing events, health and wellbeing services, welfare benefits and energy advice, alongside the introduction of an onsite bistro. The centre will be built on the ground floor of planned new veterans' housing and replace the current Uplands Community Centre.

Artist impression of the planned new community centre in Palace Fields. (Image: PR)

Shelagh Kearney, from Four Estates, said: “The introduction of new and upgraded community spaces in the area is incredibly exciting. Having the new centre located in the middle of the estate will be a huge benefit for our residents to have access to a variety of helpful and fun services right on their doorstep."

The centre was added to the plans following consultation with residents and will be one of three community areas along with a café and an additional space in the new Bethesda Church.

Nick Jones, Director of Development & Growth at Riverside, added:  "We can’t thank members of the community and stakeholders enough for their involvement over the last five years."

Riverside’s development project was described as an 'exemplar model of regeneration' when receiving a National Housing Design Award last month.

MP for Runcorn and Helsby Mike Amesbury welcomed the plans, he said: "It is especially encouraging that the regeneration plans support community organisations such as the Four Estates to continue to deliver vital services to local people."

The £80m regeneration project will be delivered across two phases in the Local Centre and Uplands, with the whole scheme expected to take between  eight and 10 years to deliver.

The first phase will see the demolition of the existing shops, replacing them with a new local centre.  Bethesda Church will be bulldozed and replaced with a new church building. New homes will also be created – including a veterans’ village – and the derelict Tricorn Pub and stables will be redeveloped to create new homes.

Phase two involves demolition of  317 homes at 70s housing estate The Uplands, along with Palace Fields Community Centre and the closure of two subways. This will be followed by construction of 257 new homes, roads, footways and cycleway

But not everyone has welcomed the plans. Some local residents say they do not wish to leave their existing homes with many having lived there for years. While some elderly homeowners fear being unable to secure new mortgages. A petition to oppose the plans has attracted more than 150 signatures.

The housing association has said its regeneration team was 'committed to supporting those affected' to relocate to suitable properties.