10-storey block of flats to be built in Warrington town centre

Plans for a 10-storey block of flats to be built in Warrington town centre have been given the green light.

A total of 80 homes will be built on the site of a vacant office building called Bank House on Bank Street, next to Time Square.There will be 30 one-bedroom units, including seven studios, and 50 two-bedroom flats for families.

Overall, the project hopes to house 160 people.

The building, which will be between eight and 10 stories high, will also have a 314 square metre space on the ground floor for commercial use, such as retail or offices.

There will be four on-site parking spaces, one disabled space and 16 cycling spaces.

Although there are no spaces for residents, there will be 20 spaces reserved for residents at a nearby multi-storey car park for two years.

There will also be a rooftop amenity space and a commercial refuge area for residents.

The existing vacant Bank House, which is two-stories high, will be demolished to make room for the apartments blocks.

Although significantly taller, it will be a similar height to the multi-story car park, Time Square offices and cinema development.

Plans submitted to Warrington Borough Council for the building show there will be floor to ceiling windows, perforated aluminium panels and window frames, full brick window reveals and brick piers.

Surrounding parks such as Bank Park, St Peters Park, Red Bonk Park and St Elphin’s Park will provide outdoor recreational space for potential new residents.

Documents outline that the project must provide money to local services in order to facilitate the growing demand for them from the new residents, such as sporting facilities at Hood Manor Recreation Ground.

The report from Environment and Regeneration Services said: “The Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) identifies a deficit in formal playing pitch provision for a number of pitch types across a number of sports boroughwide.

“In terms of Central Warrington a deficit in formal playing pitch provision for junior football, rugby league, rugby union and cricket pitches, as well as senior rugby league pitches has been identified.

“Hence, it is considered there will be a need for a financial contribution in order to meet the demand of the proposed 80 residential units (population of 160), which should be directed towards improvements at Hood Manor Recreation Ground.”

It is recommended that a financial contribution of £27,451 is made to facilitate off-site improvements to existing sports pitches. Additionally, it is recommended that a contribution of £55,127 is given to facilitate provision of built sports facilities.

The planning permission was put forward by Zerum Consult Limited on behalf of City Centre Projects.

Warrington Borough Council granted permission for the project on December 22 2021, giving three years from that date for the project to start.