Waltham Forest Council has selected St Modwen Developments Ltd, a leading town centre developer and regeneration specialist to take forward work on the Arcade site in Walthamstow.
The recommendation to select St Modwen was agreed by Cabinet in June 2008 following an intensive selection process.
The next stage will see St Modwen work with the Council on the detailed design of what will be developed on the site, with a planning application expected to be submitted in early 2009.
Consultation was one of the key criteria of the tender process, and St Modwen has committed to undertaking significant consultation with the community on its proposals. The final scheme will require planning permission in the usual way, and consultation will be undertaken as part of this process to ensure the local community’s views are taken into account.
St Modwen’s submission included the possibility of a cinema within its development options and they will be encouraged to include this in their final scheme. The final decision on this will depend on the financial and commercial viability of the detailed scheme which is yet to be drawn up.
The Council is already undertaking a detailed consultation exercise on the future of Walthamstow town centre in collaboration with the Prince’s Foundation.
These two separate but interlinked projects will continue on schedule, with St Modwen now set to get involved with the Prince’s Foundation project to create a blueprint for Walthamstow’s future.
