All Important Message for all Halewood Residents from your Labour Councillors
Having completed the demolition of the former shopping centre earlier this year, Neptune Developments, the Council's development partner for Raven Court has this week confirmed that a start on site is only a matter of weeks away.
Your Halewood Labour Councillors met with Neptune's Director of Development - Rob Mason on Monday 27th June to establish first hand exactly where this project is up to and the timescales for its completion.
Mr Mason confirmed that not only is Neptune legally committed to the Council to deliver this project but that they now had legal agreements in place with not just Aldi, the projects anchor tenant and main supermarket but also with a number of the other occupiers for the scheme including Tesco, Home & Bargain, Cooltrader and Ladbrokes.
Mr Mason added that discussions continue and are nearing completion with a number of other potential occupiers which once documented will see the scheme practically fully let ahead of works starting on site.
Having now secured the majority of the occupiers for the scheme, Neptune are finalising some minor amendments to their planning permission so as to cater for the tenants exact requirements. The Council as local planning authority has been consulted over these proposed amendments and has undertaken to progress them through the formal statutory process as quickly as possible.
Despite the difficult economic climate Neptune has advised that they have secured one of the Country's top 10 Property Investment Companies to fund the project's costs and that work is set to commence on site as soon as the amendments to the planning permissions are approved and the remaining legal agreements documented. One such agreement with Scottish Power for the provision of two new substations, to fast track this process Neptune made an advance payment to Scottish Power two weeks ago equivalent to the cost of the equipment required.
Neptune's legal contract with Aldi signed earlier this month requires them to complete the store no later than late spring / early summer next year, the clock is therefore already ticking to the new centre opening for trade. Local form Mayfield Construction have been appointed by Neptune to build out the entire scheme and are themselves gearing up for an early start on site.
As construction works progress, the first element of the scheme to be completed will be the new Bus Facilities which it is hoped will be open prior to Christmas. Neptune themselves have set a target date of late spring for handover of the Aldi unit with completion of the entire project by early next year.
We are aware of scaremongering being peddled about Halewood regarding this development, and we hope that the above facts put these rumours to bed. Please rest assured that as your elected representatives, we will provide you with clear facts and will continue to meet with the Council and Neptune Developments as the scheme takes shape.
Thank you for taking the time to read this important message.