A long-standing Crewe town centre car park has closed for good, allowing preparation works for a history centre development and new public realm.

Civic Centre Car Park, Crewe Street, permanently closed to the public on Tuesday 12 December.

This closure allows work to take place, transforming the civic and cultural quarter of Crewe town centre.

Work on the construction of a new Crewe History Centre is expected to begin by spring, with the building set to open in summer 2025 (Cheshire East Council).

The project will deliver the first part of a new and attractive pedestrian link between the Lifestyle Centre, Memorial Square and the Market Hall.

It aims to improve links to the south of the town centre, creating a new two-storey entrance to Crewe Magistrates' Courts, as well as a 32-space car park.

New planting, lighting, and seating will revamp the area and extend the current public space around Memorial Square.

The site of the former library and the structure over the existing Civic Centre Car Park will be cleared to provide a new setting for the new history centre.

This is part of the 'Cheshire's archives: a story shared' project, giving greater access to the county's archives, engage, and inspire communities, and preserve the collections for future generations.

Vice chair of Cheshire East Council's economy and growth committee, Cllr Nick Mannion (Cheshire East Council).

Vice chair of Cheshire East Council's economy and growth committee, Cllr Nick Mannion, said: "This project is one of many others being progressed across the town centre to provide more reasons for people to visit and to stay for longer. 

"Significant financial challenges impacting on commercial viability have recently led us to take a new direction with phase two of the Royal Arcade scheme.

"However, funding from the government's Future High Streets Fund and Towns Fund totalling £37m, as well as other external funding, means Crewe's regeneration programme continues to be driven forward.

"This latest project in the civic and cultural quarter, supported by both the Future High Streets Fund and Towns Fund, will regenerate a key area of the town centre.

A new two-storey entrance will be created for Crewe Magistrates' Courts, as well as a smaller 32-space car park (Cheshire East Council).

"It will provide a clear site that is needed so that work can begin on the history centre, which will be a fantastic asset for residents in the town and wider borough to be able to access." 

The pedestrian link between the Lifestyle Centre, Memorial Square and the Market Hall, as well as the new parking facilities in that area, will be completed in summer next year. 

Work on the construction of a new history centre is expected to begin by spring, with the building set to open in summer 2025. 

Cllr Mannion added: "While these works are being completed, other nearby public car parks will still be available to town centre visitors, including Thomas Street and Delamere Street.

Delamere Street Car Park will remain open for the time being, but is set to be closed and sold off in the nea future (Ryan Parker).

"Work on the town's new multi-storey car park is also well advanced and is expected to be completed in spring next year.

"This will provide modern parking facilities in a central location and replace car parks that are being used for other development projects, such as the new Youth Zone being progressed for Oak Street car park."

READ MORE: REVIEW: Crewe's 2023 Christmas Pantomime an UNMISSABLE family experience.

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