PLANS to build 56 retirement apartments on the site of the former Sportsmans Arms Pub at Penketh have been approved on appeal.
After a successful planning appeal, Churchill Retirement Living has been granted planning permission to build 56 brand new independent living retirement apartments at site of the former Sportsmans Arms pub in Penketh, Warrington.
Developers say the redevelopment of this site will bring a thriving new community to the heart of Penketh, contributing around £435,500 a year to the local economy and supporting around 7 permanent local jobs at the retirement apartments.
The new apartments will provide attractive, high-quality, secure and self-contained accommodation designed to enable independence, freedom and low-maintenance living for local over 60s. As with all Churchill Retirement Living developments, Owners will enjoy independent living and a sense of community, with a communal Owners’ Lounge, a Guest Suite, a Lodge Manager, and a 24-hour emergency call alarm service.
In the appeal decision notice, the Government’s Planning Inspector C Beeby dismissed objections to the plans and acknowledged that the development of retirement apartments would bring “considerable benefits” to the town.
The proposed retirement apartments
Adam Mooij, Managing Director of Churchill’s Northern Region which is based in Warrington, said: “This is a very positive result and we will now look forward to starting work on this new development in Penketh. Retirement housing is shown to be the most effective form of residential development for generating local economic growth, supporting local jobs, and increasing high street spend. The new apartments will also help improve the health and well-being of those who live there, and meet the housing needs of many older people in Penketh and the surrounding area.”
The developers say that by giving older people in and around Warrington the option to downsize, the proposed development of retirement apartments will help release many larger, second-hand properties back onto the market for local families to move into, also creating opportunities for local first-time buyers to get onto the ladder. It will also help to generate around £255,000 of savings each year for local health and social care services by enabling older people to enjoy a healthier, safer and more independent lifestyle.
The once-popular pub closed in 2018 despite a campaign by local residents to save it.
In 2016 Danish store chain Netto announced plans to build a new store on the site, while the pub was still trading – but the plans came to nothing as the supermarket chain ceased trading in the UK, closing a store at Lymm.
Later the same year plans were announced to give the pub on Warrington Road a new lease of life and build housing at the rear of the premises – but this again failed to materialise.
The pub last operated in 2018 and eventually went on the market for £800,000.
A Warrington Borough Council spokesperson said: “This application was considered by the Planning Inspectorate, rather than the council, and was approved subject to conditions.”
