A PLAN to convert former council offices in Warrington town centre into a restaurant and bar are to be put to planning chiefs on Wednesday.
The scheme, put forward by PTS Property involves disused buildings in Cairo Street, close to Cairo Street Unitarian Chapel and the doomed Garnett’s cabinet works and water tower.
Planning officers are recommending the scheme be approved and say restoration and reuse of the buildings would have a positive effect on the attractiveness of the town centre.
But there are a number of residential properties nearby and one objection has been received on the grounds of noise, smells and anti-social behaviour.
Officers say these issues can be dealt with by conditions.
The scheme would include an outdoor eating area – and officers say this could contribute to a relaxed and sociable style of eating and drinking indicative of a modern, cosmopolitan society.
In summary, officers say the scheme would aid the revitalisation of Cairo Street and reuse of the buildings will bring positive aesthetic benefits for the conservation area in which it stands, conserving a heritage asset.
1 Comment
Rather small for a restaurant!
Strange time for a planning application to be put in – just prior to massive demolition works on the cabinet works site?
If the building ‘got accidentally damaged’ whilst the nearby demolition works took place, planning permission already granted for the site could mean we end up with a lot more than envisaged?
I think the planning committee should insist on a site visit AFTER the nearby demolition has been completed – BEFORE any decision is made on this application.
Also, granting planning permission for a restaurant now would limit options for the soon to be cleared cabinet works / tower area – considering the fact that the demolition works are ’emergency works’ no long term plans for the wider site could possibly have already been decided upon, could they?
If we had a council with any real interest in heritage, the tower and cabinet works would have been saved and would have made a brilliant Industrial heritage centre (plenty of funding available for the creation of such). The primary school now termed ‘council offices’ could have been included in such a heritage project as tea rooms.