Planners approve 76 apartments on site of Locally Listed Arpley House

PLANNERS have approved a four-storey development of 76 apartments with balconies on the site of Locally Listed Arpley House on Wilson Patten Street in the town centre.

The site is currently a surface car park and was once home to Arpley House, well known for its association with local employer R.A. Naylor Limited. The top of the door surround on Arpley House will be retained and displayed in the communal residents’ garden.

“It’s a lovely scheme which reinstates the density and form of the streetscape in a very pleasing way,” commented Mike Gore, the director of Falconer Chester Hall leading the project’s design and delivery.

“The balconies and fenestration provide air and light and make good use of the southerly and south-easterly aspects of the two blocks. We’ve respected the predominantly red brick characteristic of this part of town whilst giving the building a contemporary edge.”

The new development makes more efficient use of the footprint and incorporates basement car parking spaces, ground floor cycle store and a residents’ lobby. There will be a communal garden to the rear of the development.

“This is a confident, contemporary rendition of apartment living which sits well with the early Victorian terraces along Wilson Patten Street,” said Jeremy Clarke of Park Equity Invest Limited.

“We’ve focused on a highly energy-efficient design to minimise energy consumption and costs and, overall, the scheme sits very well on its site. I’m looking forward to seeing it built and occupied,” he added.

Zerum was the planning consultant for the application.

Warrington Borough Council officers said the re-development of the site, bounded by Wilson Patten Street, Arpley Street and Winmarleigh Street, for residential use is appropriate within the town centre and makes efficient use of the site. They said it would make a make a positive contribution to the delivery of new homes in the borough and also provide 15 affordable units.

They added the apartment block proposal should set a standard of design for future regeneration projects which it is hoped will be carried out along Wilson Patten Street.