HEAVYHITTERS in the world of business, education, community and planning have joined together to form a board which is set to shape the blueprint for the future of Ellesmere Port.
Chairman of the Ellesmere Port Development Board, Robert Mee, led an inaugural meeting on Friday which outlined the vision for the town over the next ten years.
Plans to transform Ellesmere Port into a place to live and work, include a boost of 7,000 new homes, a state of the art university, leisure centre and a new waterfront leisure park and promenade at Ellesmere Quays.
The board also hope to attract small, medium and large businesses to the area which they say in turn will help to employment, economic growth and opportunities in the area.
Mr Mee, who has had a 40 year career in financial service and has lived in the area for more than 30 years, said: "Our aim is to provide a co-ordinated and seamless partnership between the private and public sector in order to maximise the huge potential of Ellesmere Port."
Included in the 11-strong group is Cheshire Constabulary Superintendent Jon Betts, David Thompson, a development planning manager for Peel Investments and Andrew Miller MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston.
The boards vice chairman, Cheshire West and Chester Cllr Graham Smith, a former Mayor of Ellesmere Port, said that it was "in his blood" to promote the town as a place to live and work.
At a meeting, Mr Mee spoke about the re-branding of the town and re-igniting residents positive perceptions of the place in which they live.
He said: "Confidence creates investment."
It is hoped that during the next ten years that the town centre will be turned into a vibrant retail hub with increased footfall from a new University Church of England Academy, West Cheshire College and potentially a university.
Other key areas include creating 1,100 new homes at Rossfield Park, off Rossfield Road North and key development areas such as Cromwell Road, Canalside and Rossmore were also outlined.
Educating young people in the town was at the top of the agenda and Sarah Mogel, Principle of West Cheshire College said she was proud to be part of the innovative team.
She said: "West Cheshire College is moving its headquarters to Ellesmere Port and bringing with it a new community resource so being a member of the board will enable me to make the best use of the investment for the economy of Ellesmere Port."
Board members said their aim was about "bring together the building blocks already in place" in Ellesmere Port, which include General Motors Vauxhall plant, Shell, Cheshire Oaks, as well as the new Marks and Spencer development and plans for the Natural Vision project at Chester Zoo.
The private business-lead board, which will meet once every two months and has been backed by Cheshire West and Chester Council, are due to launch a document outlining their proposals and opportunities for residents, businesses and investors to see, imminently.