New look Castlefields village square takes starts to take shape (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

New look Castlefields village square takes starts to take shape

8:00am Monday 6th July 2009

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A MULTI-MILLION pound facelift of a Runcorn new town estate has reached a milestone with the opening of the latest new homes.

Residents moved into 25 two bedroom apartments in Muncaster Court, part of a multi-agency regeneration project of Castlefields.

Deborah McLaughlin, regional director of Homes and Communities Agency, which is investing £24 million into the programme, said: “This development marks the first step towards the creation of a vibrant village square where shops, community facilities and meeting places will naturally cluster.

“It will play a central role in giving the estate and local people a brighter and more fulfilling future.”

Castlefields, formerly a 1960s estate of 2,400 deck dwelling flats, maisonettes and bungalows, is being transformed as part of a 10 year plan.

A new community centre, health centre, shops and more homes will be created around a new public square.

Residents from Kingshead Close and Keepers Walk have begun a new life in Muncaster Court, named after the Lake District refuge of King Henry IV during the War of the Roses.

Children at Astmoor Junior School chose the name because Henry was also the 15th Baron of Halton.

Clr Rob Polhill, board member for regeneration, said: “The overall aim of the project is to create a sustainable and vibrant community by improving the environmental, economic and social wellbeing of the area, whilst achieiving the highest possible standards in terms of design.”

Dave Henry, one of the new tenants, said: “These new homes are such an improvement on where we lived before.

“We feel more secure, we’ve got good neighbours and there’s a real community spirit.”

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