Council buys Widnes Waterfront site

Halton council has bought a 40-acre site in Widnes, Cheshire, for redevelopment as part of the Widnes Waterfront scheme. The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has provided £6.1m in funding to support the acquisition of the site, which is being sold by Bayer Crop Science. The site, of Gorsey Lane, is close to the proposed Mersey Crossing, which is currently the subject of a public inquiry. Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the NWDA, said: “This site is located in a key position within Widnes Waterfront and this investment will help to unlock its potential as a major new employment site for the area.” BNP Paribas, formerly Atisreal, advised Bayer, which will vacate the site by 2011.   david.quinn@rbi.co.uk