Walk from Slaithwaite to Marsden viewing the celebrated buildings.

Please note that the timings given for this event are NOT accurate. For details of venue, timing and to book for the event you should contact the River Colne Project on 01484 847798.

Project Champion: Michael Blake

Aim: To provide a sustainable expansion of the existing employment and housing access along the banks of the canal.

Achievements to date:

• We have held meetings with the owners of major sites in Marsden and Slaithwaite, where it is either known, or expected, that the uses of those sites will change within the next five years.
• Encouraged the owners to become involved in the Renaissance process and to think about using the sites for purposes that will provide employment and business opportunities, as well as housing.
• Talked to planning officers to promote the idea of a masterplan for the village centres.
• Encouraged joint working between planning officers, site owners and the renaissance steering group to achieve renaissance objectives.
• Introduced consultants working on feasibility studies for other priority projects to the owners of Globe Mills, Slaithwaite and New Mill and Bank Bottom Mills, Marsden to see whether the needs of those projects and the aspirations of the site owners could be matched.

Targets for the next twelve months:

• To continue to encourage site owners to take an active part in the Renaissance process.
• To promote and find funding for a masterplan for the village centres.
• To promote good design where new buildings are constructed.

The major challenges of the project to date have been:

• Being able to demonstrate to site owners and planning officers that there is an advantage to them in being active partners in the Renaissance process.
• Finding sources of funding and officer time to engage in a strategic master planning project.