Warrington town centre scheme approved

Falconer Chester Hall has secured planning permission for a major apartment development in the centre of Warrington.The four-storey scheme, on Wilson Patten Street in the town centre, will be brought forward by Park Equity Invest Ltd and comprises 76 apartments with balconies.The site is currently a surface car park and was once home to Arpley House, well known for its association with employer R.A. Naylor Ltd. 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,” said Mike Gore, the director of Falconer Chester Hall leading the project’s design and implementation. “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.”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.