Plans for a £90m regeneration of Macclesfield’s Silk Quarter have been thrown into disarray after retailer Debenhams pulled out of the scheme.
Debenhams had been committed to an 80,000 sq ft department store to anchor the town centre scheme.
Cheshire East council leadership asked its officers to “review our position” with developer Wilson Boden, but added that it intended to accelerate delivery of the leisure elements of the scheme on Silk Street.
The council has also unlocked additional funds to deliver a new cinema and restaurants on the site of the Churchill Way car park.
Cineworld is said to remain committed to the project.
Cheshire East leader Michael Jones said: “The decision by Debenhams comes as no surprise.
“I remain committed to the redevelopment of Macclesfield and the whole-town vision for key locations such as the Market Place, Mill Street and the Silk Quarter.
“It is clear that the leisure elements of the scheme have always received overwhelming support. I have asked my officers to review our position with Wilson Bowden while we focus on these elements of the Silk Street scheme, which we hope now to deliver sooner than originally envisaged.
“Cheshire East council is also doubling its own financial commitment to £1m of capital funding and we will be making development finance available, if necessary, to deliver the leisure elements of the scheme.”
