Plans submitted to convert part of former CPS Shopping Centre into 14 residential dwellings

CONTROVERSIAL plans to convert part of the former CPS Shopping Centre at Culcheth into 14 residential dwellings have been submitted to Warrington Borough Council planners.

The application by A Faij (Shivat Haminim Capital Ltd) involves the proposed conversion of part of the first and second floor from office (Class E) to form 14 no. residential dwellings (Class C3)
at 7 – 9 Common Lane, Culcheth.

It follows on from a planning application being withdrawn at short notice in August to carry out works on the first floor of the former shopping arcade as the first steps towards converting it into living accommodation.
Previously, more than 20 local traders were evicted from the premises earlier this year, at short notice on “fire safety” grounds.
The works proposed at the premises at the time included skylights, a bin store and cycling racks.
Villagers who turned out in force to oppose the application are already planning to step up their campaign with a public meeting at Daten at 7pm on December 1st.
The meeting is being co-ordinated by the ‘Protect Culcheth Village’ & Bring Back Our Shops” group.

A visual supplied by the applicants as part of their application.

In a covering letter, the applicants state that there are 132 parking spaces on the site, with the maximum parking demand on the site for the existing commercial uses being 102 spaces thus leaving 30 parking spaces spare.
It is proposed that 19 parking spaces will be allocated to the residential conversion in this application.
It is also proposed that space for 14 cycle spaces, as well as refuse storage, will be provided.
A Light Assessment has been included with this application, which concludes that “The results show that all of the proposed rooms achieve SDA values at above the BRE guidelines. The proposed accommodation is considered to perform positively for a project based in an urban location. This is particularly so because the higher 200 lux target has been used for living/dining rooms, which only need to meet the 150 lux target.”
In a message to local residents, Gill Stott, who helped launch the local campaign group opposing the development, said: “For years, the CPS Centre and its shops and businesses were central to our village and used not only by local people but by visitors too.
“Since taking ownership of the building, it has been allowed to fall into a state of disrepair, and I believe all by design.
“Do you really think that we can trust these people to do the best thing for our village or the best thing for themselves and their investors? I know what I think and that’s why I want to try and stop this planning application and restore our village centre for future generations.
“I hope you’ll join us at the meeting on Monday evening and get involved with our Culcheth & Glazebury Residents’ Association.

The application is listed as pending consideration as a delegated decision by borough council planners.