Wednesday, 16 June 2010
South Lakeland released the following press release on 11 June regarding the Berners development:
'The Berners Vision Partnership project has taken a significant step forward with the council securing a long-term commitment from everyone involved just months before Clare Lane pedestrian footbridge re-opens.
Concerns had been raised locally that any delay in the project may put at risk the funding for the health centre which is a major part of the regeneration site.
South Lakeland District Council has worked with the site developer’s, the Berners Vision Partnership, to address concerns about the long term future of the development if the health centre was built ahead of the rest of the site.
The council has secured long-term commitment from the partnership to continue the project as a whole, with two clear development phases.
Phase one will see the development of the new health centre on the upper part of the Berners Close Car Park.
It’s expected that SLDC's Planning Committee will be able to consider the planning application for the health centre in July.
Phase two will continue to transform the site of the Berners Pool, the car park and adjacent land and the former open air swimming pool into a new leisure facility with swimming pool, housing, extra care housing, car park, and a new rail crossing.
Cllr Brendan Jameson, Leader of the Council said: “The people of Grange have been very patient with this complex project and at last we are able to see the prospect of work starting.
“We are planning to rebuild the restored Clare Lane Bridge in the Autumn and there’s every possibility that work will have also started on the new Health Centre.
We hope that the Berners Vision Partnership will then be able to quickly move towards the second stage of the project.”
The council has secured commitment from the partnership; Russell Armer Limited (RAL) and South Lakes Hotels (SLH) on their intent and ability to complete the second phase and GPI Group who will deliver the health centre in phase one.
If plans are approved in late July, work could start on site on phase one during October 2010.
Steve Laker, of General Practice Investment Corporation Limited (part of the GP Group), said: “We are delighted at the meaningful progress that has been made in relation to the entire Berners Regeneration project and look forward to commencing construction of Phase 1 as soon as practicable after the grant of planning permission."
Martyn Nicholson, Managing Director of Russell Armer Homes, said: We are pleased that positive progress is being made on this important scheme for Grange- over- Sands.
“We look forward to creating a housing development which everyone involved can be proud of. “
Jonathan Denby, Managing Director of South Lakes Hotels, said: "It will be an exciting day for me to see work start on the site after such a long period spent sorting out the preliminaries.
“I am confident that phase 2, which will include the new leisure centre and the redevelopment of the lido, will follow soon afterwards.”
In a joint statement Grange ward Councillors Tom Harvey and Bill Wearing, added:
“This is a positive step towards the development of the Berners site.
“It may seem that progress has taken some time, but this is an extremely complex development and I'm pleased that all parties involved are working together.
“The health centre is desperately needed in our area and I look forwards to this part moving forwards as soon as possible, with phase two to follow shortly afterwards.
“Once the first digger is on site, hopefully within the next few months, Grange residents will be able to see that all the work that has gone on behind the scenes has really paid off."