Cheshire West Council and Weaver Valley Partnership have set out their ideas to transform this important site between the town centre and the river into a vibrant quarter where people can shop, enjoy leisure time, socialise and work.
The retail-led scheme would see the creation of more than 300,000 sq ft of shopping space, including food and non-food retail.
Leisure uses including a cinema, 10-pin bowling outlet, restaurants, cafes and high quality public realm spaces are also proposed for the 40-acre site.
Overall the proposal looks to provide:
• Non-food retail – 205,000 sq ft including the potential for a major 50,000 sq ft
• anchor tenant
• Food retail – 118,000 sq ft
• Restaurants and cafes – 45,000 sq ft
• Cinema and 10-pin bowling – 70,000 sq ft
• Three public realm spaces
The development would integrate with existing retail areas of the town centre through strong pedestrian links with Witton Street, Weaver Square and the Market.
The development framework will be officially launched at a public meeting at Northwich Memorial Hall on Tuesday 19 July at 2pm.
An exhibition of the draft plans – including artists' impressions - can be viewed at the Memorial Hall and at Northwich Information Centre from this date until the end of August, as part of the public engagement exercise.
The Baron's Quay redevelopment is being driven forward by the Council and the Weaver Valley Partnership.
The publication of the development framework signifies a major step forward following the termination of the previous developer agreement with Wilson Bowden in February 2011.
Councillor Herbert Manley, Executive Member for Prosperity, said: 'The creation of a development framework for Baron's Quay is a milestone in the regeneration of Northwich town centre.
'It is a crucial document which gives us the power to work with potential tenants to develop the plans in further detail, and ultimately paves the way for a planning application to be taken forward.
'The scheme reflects the aspirations for the original Baron's Quay masterplan, yet now captures food retail as part of a first phase which we believe will create a strong basis for the overall implementation of the project.'
Geoff Hope-Terry, Chair of the Weaver Valley Partnership, said: 'The plan for Barons Quay is taking shape and we are now able to share our ideas with the local community.
'This will mean that a planning application can be presented early in 2012 and regeneration of this prime location can commence.
'Together with the good progress being made on the new leisure and cultural facility, the proposed town centre improvements following last year's public consultation and the ideas emerging from British Waterways for the Marina site, there is a real sense of excitement and anticipation being created in Northwich.
'Our approach is to support high quality new developments that strengthen the town centre as a whole, including the waterfronts, making it connected, safe, and easy to move around.
'None of these things can happen overnight, of course, but I feel that some very real momentum has been created towards achieving a 'step-change' to the town's retail and visitor offer which will enhance its position as an important market town.'
A planning policy position statement for Baron's Quay and Northwich town centre was endorsed by the Council's Executive on June 8.