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Following the launch of a national competition to find a development partner to transform the Borough Council’s key bus Station site in Hinckley, 15 developers have submitted schemes, landowners were told at a meeting organised by the council last night.
During the meeting landowners heard that officers have been pleased by the level of interest shown in the site and have been inspired by the quality of a number of the schemes. The 15 schemes were submitted by the 28 January deadline and come from a range of National, Regional and Local developers. Potential developers had been asked to come up with schemes based on the council’s preferred option for the site as a mixed-use development including a cinema, other leisure uses, quality retail uses (including a superstore and car parking) and the development of the bus station. Council Leader David Bill said: “I’m really pleased with how the process is moving forward and delighted to hear that the quality of the schemes is high. The level of interest shown in this site is very encouraging. We are determined to get on with it, but we also want to make sure that we get it right. It is absolutely essential that we maintain a dialogue with all of the present landowners and occupiers on the site. I would urge people to get involved and have their say on the schemes when they are published in MaY. Ian Daniels, Chair of the Hinckley Town Centre Partnership said: “The strong level of developer interest that has been shown throughout this process is a further endorsement of confidence in the town. It is important for the competitiveness of the town that a preferred development scheme and partners is chosen as soon as possible. This together with the commitment on the Atkins site and the recent announcement about the significant investment in the Britannia Centre adds to a positive future for Hinckley”. The council will now be evaluating the schemes with advisors Lambert Smith Hampton to come up with a shortlist by 22 February. Residents and businesses will then get to see and comment on the short-listed schemes as part of second stage of the process in May. Martin Herbert of Lambert Smith Hampton added: “I am tremendously excited by the quality and number of schemes submitted at this first stage. It appears from the commitment put forward by these developers to provide a quality mix scheme on this site will be of great benefit to the economic vibrancy on offer in the town and to the people of the borough and further afield”. The council is on track to announce a development partner for the site by June 2008. |
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