PLANNERS have approved proposals for an eight-storey apartment block, providing 39 affordable self-contained apartments and 112sqm commercial space at Stanley Street, Warrington.
The development, which will obscure the “brutalist” concrete BT exchange close to the town centre, has been granted Outline planning permission by Warrington Borough Council.
The scheme represents the first residential-led scheme to come forward as part of the town centre Bank Quay Gateway regeneration area.
Developer Warrington based Chesro Ltd, represented by planning consultants County Planning Ltd, submitted plans for the mixed-use residential-led scheme in October 2020.
Proposals for tall residential developments elsewhere in the town were heavily criticised by members at a recent council meeting for being overly dominant in the street scene.
Chesro’s architect, DOVE Architecture & Interior Design, revisited previous proposals for the site and came up with a new 8-storey scheme that enhances the nearby conservation area and listed
buildings, whilst also obscuring the brutalist concrete BT exchange building.
Dan Matthewman, County Planning Managing Director said: “There has been a record of significant under-delivery of new homes in the Borough over recent years. This scheme will not only provide
new homes in a highly sustainable location, but aligns with the Council’s town centre masterplan’s vision for new residential development in the Bank Quay Gateway”.
The Bank Quay Quarter forms one of six development quarters within the Warrington Town Centre Masterplan, which will be the focus of a new Central Business District, where major redevelopment
proposals including a new national rail hub, new homes and new jobs are planned.
Matthewman continued: “We’re really pleased to be able to move this exciting project forward. The scheme will deliver a high-quality gateway building that marks the entrance to the town centre. The scheme shows investor confidence in the town and its draw for businesses and families alike.”
County Planning submitted the application and led on all aspects. DOVE Architecture & Interior Design, SCP Transport, Dragonfly Consulting, Redmore Environmental and MB Heritage also
assisted on the application.
