A BIG name anchor store is still at the heart of provisional plans to redevelop Baron’s Quay.

In the days of Northwich Vision, Debenhams was said to be a key outlet lined up for the development, but CWAC and the Weaver Valley Partnership are not naming names this time around.

A major 50,000 sq ft anchor tenant is among the 205,000 sq ft set aside for non-food retail, though the people behind the masterplan are keen to maintain Northwich’s independent shops.

Geoff Hope-Terry, chairman of the Weaver Valley Partnership, said: “Our aim is to bring in a big name attraction.

“We want to keep the mix because at the moment Northwich’s unique selling point is the strength of it’s independents – we want to enhance that but also look at the big names.

“The immediate worry for everyone is that it will dissipate trade but luckily we’re in the position that there’s a huge catchment area in Northwich that we’re not exploring.

“If we make the retail offer right, they will come in – that’s a big opportunity most towns don’t have.”