Gladman Developments had lodged outline proposals to build 170 homes on the plot off Warrington Road, west of Lymm town centre. 

Of these homes, around 30% would be delivered on affordable tenures. 

Around 11 acres of the site would be given over to housing, with seven reserved for public open space. 

While currently designated as Green Belt, the site is earmarked for release in Warrington’s emerging local plan, which is on course to be adopted this autumn. 

A design and access statement prepared by Gladman states that the application is “made in the context of the government’s ambition to boost housing delivery and the identification of the application site as a suitable and sustainable location to meet Warrington Council’s housing needs”. 

To learn more, search for application reference 2023/01074/OUTM on Warrington Council’s planning portal. 

Pegasus is advising on heritage, Tetra Tech on transport, and FPCR Environment and Design on arboriculture.

The post Gladman plans 170 Lymm homes  appeared first on Place North West.

Warringtonfire is a global fire testing, inspection, and certification service operating across 20 offices worldwide.

The firm has announced that it will relocate its fire resistance testing from its existing facility off Holmesfield Road in Warrington to the new test site at Birchwood Park. This move represents an almost 80% increase in size.

Project manager Arcadis and principal contractor Tilbury Douglas are already on site building the facility, which will see the creation of eight fire resistance testing furnaces.

There will be three horizontal and three vertical furnaces designed to evaluate the fire performance of different products or assemblies, as well as two indicative furnaces to provide a focused testing method to quantify the ability of a material or assembly to withstand exposure to high temperatures.

In terms of sustainability, plans include a number of measures to reduce energy use, maintain air quality, and minimise potential environmental impacts. These measures include built-in recycling systems, energy-efficient fans, and smoke and odour capture and treatment.

The £20m facility will house a 200-strong team, which will be one of the world’s largest teams of fire technical experts. Over 50 new jobs will be created, with a commitment to training and upskilling new and existing employees.

Warringtonfire’s existing facility off Holmesfield Road will continue to operate at full capacity while the new facility is under construction, before being partly converted to create a centre of excellence for reaction to fire testing.

TP Bennett Architects and Hoare Lea designed the project.

Jason Dodds, vice president of Warringtonfire, said: “Our new fire testing facility in Warrington is a major investment in the region and a statement of our ambition for the business…

“The new facility will significantly improve Warringtonfire’s testing offering for our customers, providing a faster and wider-ranging service, as well as expanded access to technical excellence delivered by the foremost experts in the fields of fire testing and certification”, he continued.

“It will solidify our position as the go-to partner for fire testing and related services and broaden our ability to serve customers across the value chain.

“Using best-in-class building design and new technology, we will also be able to greatly improve our environmental footprint, which is incredibly important to us as a company and is becoming increasingly important for our customers.”

The post Warringtonfire reveals plans to open £20m fire safety facility appeared first on Place North West.

Galliford Try has signed a 10-year lease on a 16,200 sq ft open-plan, flexible office at Birchwood Park in Warrington, relocating from its previous space off Crab Lane nearby.

Aligning with the company’s commitment to net zero and ESG goals, the office features 100% renewable energy, on-site bee hives to add to biodiversity, and shuttle buses to promote sustainable travel.

Mark Baxendale, head of group property at Galliford Try, said: “Moving to these new sustainable offices is another example of our commitment to achieving net zero carbon across our operations by 2030.

“The park also commits to sending zero waste direct to landfill, with over 75% of waste recycled each year, and features some of the most accessible parking options within the surrounding area.”

Home to more than 165 companies including Bellway and David Wilson Homes, Birchwood Park also provides on-site facilities such as a gym, restaurants, a café, a nursery, and an events space.

Martin O’Rourke, commercial director at Birchwood Park, added: “We understand how to cultivate an office environment that enables employees to reach their full potential, whilst making their working day that much more enjoyable.

“We feel 401 Faraday Street achieves exactly that, combining flexible office space with a number of fantastic facilities that we know will boost the wellbeing of Galliford Try’s North West team and enable them to thrive.”

Agents BE Group and JLL acted for Birchwood Park.

The post Galliford Try takes 16,000 sq ft at Birchwood Park appeared first on Place North West.

The Opportunity

Due to continued growth, we are actively seeking a new recruit to join our clients’ real estate practice as an Office Agency Surveyor.

Based out of Manchester city centre, our clients cover a large geographical northwest area including but not limited to central Manchester, Salford, Cheshire and Warrington, and have a long-standing client base including some of the most established commercial property businesses in the region, as well as occupier clients.

The Role:

As Senior Office Agency Surveyor, you shall undertake the following duties:

• Field and respond to enquiries.
• Arrange and conduct viewings.
• Prepare and negotiate Heads of Terms to achieve the desired outcomes for clients.
• Liaise with clients regularly with market and enquiry updates.
• Prepare for and attend any recurring client meetings.
• Take on sole responsibility for a number of schemes.
• Win new instructions, take them to market, and lease the space!
• Assist in ensuring current availability and company website is up to date to present properties in the best possible light.
• Seek out new instructions from both Landlord and Tenant side.
• Support colleagues in the business in any other relevant duties.

This will be a very active role, across all size of accommodation and being a results focused business so many Landlord and Tenant clients   return to this exceptional practice.

You will have responsibility for your own work and the chance to seek out your own opportunities for new business.

There will be the ability to work remotely –  our client understands that there is a world outside of work so respect that from time to time, its’ employees may need to work a little more flexibly and will be given their trust to do so.

The ideal candidate would:

• Have some experience of working in a similar role.
• Be familiar with the Office sector.
• Results focused.
• Have the ability to work independently.
• Be looking to progress to the next level in their career.
• Full driving licence.

Remuneration includes:

• Basic Salary of circa £30,00 to £40,000+ (D.O.E.)
• Car Allowance (D.O.E.)
• Generous holidays
• Pension
• Staff Profit Share
• Private Healthcare
• And more…

This is an ideal opportunity for an ambitious and motivated individual to join and lead within this specialist and successful team. You should be commercially focused, have an excellent track record of delivery and be happy working both independently and as part of the team.

My client offers genuine career progression (all the way up to Director level) for a dedicated, professional, and enthusiastic individual with a strong work ethic who wants to join one of the market leaders.

If you wish to apply for this position, please contact or email your CV to andrew@kingsleyrecruitment.co.uk or call Andrew Kingsley in confidence on 07879 413 765 for further information.

The post Office Agency – Graduate up to Senior Surveyor Level appeared first on Place North West.

Offering something completely new to the area, this firm offer a unique, beautiful, and functional office environment. Offering space for the full spectrum of established and start up businesses – everything from a single desk co-working space, meeting rooms, serviced offices, to larger leased spaces, all being part of a vibrant community. In a time where businesses are moving to hybrid work, this concept offers the best of both worlds, and is an exciting aspect to be part of within Commercial Property.

As Business Centre Manager you will be responsible for the following tasks as part of the day to day running of the site,

• Marketing co working and serviced offices (including social media).
• Conducting viewings for the serviced offices and co working.
• Singing up licence agreements with new clients and renewals.
• Invoicing and collecting payments for co working and serviced office clients.
• Part time on reception (potentially 1-2 days a week).
• Dealing with general day to day tenant queries and customer service.
• Dealing with building maintenance matters.
• Organising regular events and community building, helping foster a connection and community within the building.
• Assisting of the on-site cafe business.

As Business Centre Manager you will have/be

• Skills and Experience in a similar role within property, however a background within hospitality/events will also be considered.
• Energy and positivity.
• A drive to go over and above to give tenants an exceptional experience.
• An excellent communicator.
• Highly organised with a methodical approach.

This truly is an exceptional opportunity that will allow you to take ownership and continue to grow your career with this dynamic and successful firm. There will be opportunity to become involved in new sites and developments, allowing you to develop your experience whilst working for a firm that recognise and reward your work, dedication, and success.

Salary is highly negotiable (estimated up to c£32,000 doe) and can be discussed in more detail during the application process.

This is only a snapshot of what this role truly can offer so for more information about this opportunity please contact Clare Norman – 07764 770 429 or email clare@cliftongray.co.uk

Clifton Gray is a specialist property recruitment company. We specialise in placing property professionals within commercial property, architecture, and residential property, from entry graduate level through to senior appointments.

The post Business Centre Manager appeared first on Place North West.

The Opportunity

Due to continued growth, we are actively seeking a new recruit to join our clients’ real estate practice as an Office Agency Surveyor.

Based out of Manchester city centre, our clients cover a large geographical northwest area including but not limited to central Manchester, Salford, Cheshire and Warrington, and have a long-standing client base including some of the most established commercial property businesses in the region, as well as occupier clients.

The Role:

As Senior Office Agency Surveyor, you shall undertake the following duties:

• Field and respond to enquiries.
• Arrange and conduct viewings.
• Prepare and negotiate Heads of Terms to achieve the desired outcomes for clients.
• Liaise with clients regularly with market and enquiry updates.
• Prepare for and attend any recurring client meetings.
• Take on sole responsibility for a number of schemes.
• Win new instructions, take them to market, and lease the space!
• Assist in ensuring current availability and company website is up to date to present properties in the best possible light.
• Seek out new instructions from both Landlord and Tenant side.
• Support colleagues in the business in any other relevant duties.

This will be a very active role, across all size of accommodation and being a results focused business so many Landlord and Tenant clients   return to this exceptional practice.

You will have responsibility for your own work and the chance to seek out your own opportunities for new business.

There will be the ability to work remotely –  our client understands that there is a world outside of work so respect that from time to time, its’ employees may need to work a little more flexibly and will be given their trust to do so.

The ideal candidate would:

• Have some experience of working in a similar role.
• Be familiar with the Office sector.
• Results focused.
• Have the ability to work independently.
• Be looking to progress to the next level in their career.
• Full driving licence.

Remuneration includes:

• Basic Salary of circa £30,00 to £40,000+ (D.O.E.)
• Car Allowance (D.O.E.)
• Generous holidays
• Pension
• Staff Profit Share
• Private Healthcare
• And more…

This is an ideal opportunity for an ambitious and motivated individual to join and lead within this specialist and successful team. You should be commercially focused, have an excellent track record of delivery and be happy working both independently and as part of the team.

My client offers genuine career progression (all the way up to Director level) for a dedicated, professional, and enthusiastic individual with a strong work ethic who wants to join one of the market leaders.

If you wish to apply for this position, please contact or email your CV to andrew@kingsleyrecruitment.co.uk or call Andrew Kingsley in confidence on 07879 413 765 for further information.

The post Office Agency – Graduate up to Senior Surveyor level appeared first on Place North West.

Cant is the former chief executive of the North East-based Metnor Group, which entered administration earlier this year following the collapse of its subsidiaries Metnor Construction and electrical engineering firm Norstead. The company’s downfall was due to a rise in construction material costs and COVID-19 restrictions, which led to contracts being operated at a loss, according to administrators.

Prior to Metnor, Cant worked at Taylor Woodrow and Styles&Wood. While at Styles&Wood, Cant worked on fit-outs for Debenhams and John Lewis.

Sisk managing director Alan Rodger commented on how Cant’s fit-out expertise fits in with the company’s future.

“There is a growing market that we feel we are well placed to service, as clients & landlords look to decarbonise their assets and achieve their net zero ambitions and we are delighted that Chris has joined us to help deliver a Sisk offering in this sector,” Rodger said.

“Sisk’s commitment to our purpose of creating places for future generations and our recent success on the Pagabo Fit-Out Framework, combined with our relevant experience across the business in the UK, Ireland, and Europe puts us in a strong position to move forward.”

Cant will be based out of Sisk’s Warrington office.

For his part, Cant said he was very excited to work at Sisk.

“Sisk has a wide range of experienced people,” Cant said. “I am passionate about construction and most enjoy delivering exceptional projects of high quality in a collaborative manner and I look forward to working with the Sisk team to do just that.”

The post Sisk appoints UK North director appeared first on Place North West.

New Care Group will operate the care home, which includes communal lounges, spa-assisted bathrooms, dining rooms, a hair salon, and a nail bar. There are also landscaped gardens for residents to enjoy and 30 parking spaces.

Grappenhall Manor offers services for those in need of dementia care, respite care, and nursing care.

The £9m Grappenhall care home was a team effort for the Altrincham-based McGoff Group, which includes both care home operator New Care and principal contractor McGoff Construction.

Other McGoff companies Panacea Building Systems and McGoff Group Facilities Services also worked on the project.

“We have successfully carved a niche within the UK care sector and are now the contractor of choice for several leading care home operators,” said Dean Johnston, group managing director of McGoff Construction Services, the McGoff Group arm that includes both McGoff Construction, Panacea Building Systems, and McGoff Group Facilities Services.

“Our approach is smooth and seamless with little risk, and we have a proven track record of delivering exceptional care facilities utilising our off-site lightweight steel frame solution on budget and within the agreed time frame,” Johnston continued.

“From acquiring the land to designing the scheme, securing planning consent, and building, we manage each project in its entirety before handing over state-of-the-art care facilities to satisfied clients.”

Grappenhall Manor’s completion puts New Care’s portfolio of care homes to 14. New Care is also working with McGoff Construction on its 64-bed care home in Egerton, which is set to open by the end of this year. Work is set to begin on a Bowdon care home later this month.

Cath Fairhurst, chief operating officer at New Care, said: “Our partnership with McGoff Construction is perfect as we collaborate closely on all aspects of each and every care facility, particularly choosing suitable sites and developing design plans, ensuring the care home is exactly as we want it.

“With both businesses part of the McGoff Group, we will continue to combine clinical requirements with build excellence and look forward to the handover of the facility in Egerton later this year, as well as progress on site in Bowdon.”

The post £9m Grappenhall care home completes appeared first on Place North West.

John Turner Construction was the main contractor for the project at Europa Boulevard in Gemini Business Park.

CBRE Investment Management acquired the 8.5-acre Warrington site in January 2022 from developer Telereal Trillium.

CBRE bought the land to transform the former BT call centre on site to create an industrial unit with enhanced environmental credentials, and has delivered a 120,500 sq ft warehouse featuring 9,000 sq ft of office space.

Designs for Solar120 focused on renewable energy and zero emissions in both build and future operations to achieve the facility’s BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating.

The construction process retained and reused as much of the existing property as possible to minimise embodied carbon.

Other initiatives included retrofitting the property to install heat pumps and LED lighting, remove gas supplies, and generate sustainable energy on-site. Solar panels installed onto Solar120’s roof will supply up to 670K KWH of renewable energy to tenants, hence the name.

Tenants will also be provided with 18 HGV and 88 car parking spaces.

Rob Trevor, head of asset management for UK logistics at CBRE, said: “The standards set were very high to ensure we delivered a high-performing, sustainable building that had a positive environmental and social impact…

“We have created a building fit for the future and that meets the requirements of the modern-day occupier.”

Telereal submitted plans for the property’s industrial transformation in June 2021.

WML Consulting is the structural engineer for the scheme.

The post CBRE completes 120,000 sq ft BREEAM Excellent Warrington industrial appeared first on Place North West.

Marshall CPD has sold 300 Longbarn to international property investment and development company Sepira for around £5m. This price reflects a net initial yield of 6%.

Marshall CPD acquired the building for £2.3m in 2015, so the new £5m price tag shows a price increase of more than £2.6m.

The property is single-let to the National Crime Agency for another 13 years and has a yearly rental income of £312,390.

Carrick Real Estate acted for Marshal CPD on the sale of 300 Longbarn.

OBI advised Sepira on the deal.

Next door, the agency’s headquarters at 100 Longbarn was sold to the Bank of London and the Middle East in January.

The £40.6m price tag for 100 Longbarn Boulevard was £3m less than Santander’s pension investment fund spent to acquire the site in 2019.

According to HM Land Registry documents, the Santander subsidiary paid £43.6m at that time for the property.

The post Sepira snaps up National Crime Agency office for £5m appeared first on Place North West.

Scroll down to see drone photos of the cooling towers.

Fiddler’s Ferry Power Station is owned by Peel L&P subsidiary Peel NRE, which is working on a 10- to 15-year masterplan for the 820-acre brownfield site. One element of this proposal would be a 1.4m sq ft industrial scheme.

Peel NRE said it was P.P. O’Connor’s experience in complex demolitions that won them the contract, which was for an undisclosed amount.

The Trafford Park-based P.P. O’Connor led the demolition of INEOS in Runcorn, Stanlow Refinery in Ellesmere Port, and LyondellBasell in Carrington.

At Fiddler’s Ferry, the power station will be dismantled and destroyed in phases. The first of these phases will zero in on the coal stockyard, the site’s northern cooling towers, and a few ex-administrative buildings.

The cooling towers will be destroyed by the end of January 2024.

Kieran Tames, development director at Peel NRE, described the announcement of P.P. O’Connor as demolition contractor as a “major milestone” for the project.

“It’s reassuring to be working with industry experts, P.P. O’Connor as we demolish one of the country’s last remaining coal-fired power stations,” Tames said.

“We know that the demolition has been anticipated by communities, not just in Warrington but across the region so will ensure that residents will be kept updated on our demolition plans as we develop a precise timetable.”

P.P. O’Connor will be using a local workforce on the project, which will involve around 120 staff members.

“Fiddler’s Ferry is a highly prestigious location, and we are very proud to be involved in this project,” said P.P. O’Connor managing director Peter O’Connor. “We look forward to working with Peel NRE to achieve its vision in the regeneration of this strategic site.”

Click any image to launch gallery. All photos provided by Peel NRE.

The post P.P. O’Connor to flatten Fiddler’s Ferry appeared first on Place North West.

]]> https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/p-p-oconnor-to-flatten-fiddlers-ferry/feed/ 8 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/warrington-approves-revised-trident-business-park-plans/ https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/warrington-approves-revised-trident-business-park-plans/#respond Wed, 28 Jun 2023 10:36:16 +0000 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/?p=522460 St Modwen Logistics can now deliver more than 119,000 sq ft of warehouse space after receiving the green light at the council’s development management committee meeting last Thursday.

The post Warrington approves revised Trident Business Park plans appeared first on Place North West.

]]> St Modwen Logistics can now deliver more than 119,000 sq ft of warehouse space after receiving the green light at the council’s development management committee meeting last Thursday.

The UMC Architects-designed scheme will see the creation of two facilities at Trident Business Park off Warrington Road.

The larger warehouse would provide 77,000 sq ft of industrial space, while the smaller building would provide 42,800 sq ft.

Construction will follow the demolition of the 91,600 sq ft of vacant offices and the 6,400 sq ft Noggin Inn pub on site.

St Modwen submitted the revised plans in April following community backlash in 2021 regarding the scheme’s potential impact on nearby homes.

Updated proposals have seen the proposed height of the largest building reduced from 12.5 metres to 10 metres to lessen its visual impact. The warehouses will also now face away from surrounding houses, reducing noise and light pollution.

Warrington Council approved the revised application despite having received 333 objections. Traffic, wildlife, and environmental concerns were raised, as well as ongoing worries about the residential impact of the project.

Planning Prospects is the planning consultant for the scheme. Also on the project team is landscape architect RPS, environmental consultant SK Environmental Solutions, and arboricultural consultant Cheshire Woodlands.

To find out more about the plans, search for application number 2021/40696 on Warrington Council’s planning portal.

The post Warrington approves revised Trident Business Park plans appeared first on Place North West.

]]> https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/warrington-approves-revised-trident-business-park-plans/feed/ 0 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/lidl-eyes-fourth-warrington-location/ https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/lidl-eyes-fourth-warrington-location/#comments Mon, 26 Jun 2023 09:35:32 +0000 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/?p=521880 Pinners Brow Retail Park could welcome a new tenant as the discount retailer has lodged plans to deliver a 23,400 sq ft supermarket.

The post Lidl eyes fourth Warrington location appeared first on Place North West.

]]> Pinners Brow Retail Park could welcome a new tenant as the discount retailer has lodged plans to deliver a 23,400 sq ft supermarket.

Designed by Studio 91 Architecture, the scheme would see Lidl occupy two units at the shopping park off Haydock Street to deliver a store with a 16,300 sq ft sales area.

These units are currently occupied by Carpet Right and The Jungle, a soft-play area.

Plans will also see the existing 15,300 sq ft Sofology store cut down to 7,600 sq ft and occupied by The Jungle.

Wickes DIY is also at Pioneers Brow Retail Park and would remain untouched by the proposals.

Visitors would have access to a total of 204 car parking spaces, including 12 disabled and two electric vehicle charging bays.

Plan A is the scheme’s planning consultant. Also on the project team is transport consultant SCP, engineering consultant Beam Consulting, and environmental consultant Remada.

Lidl currently operates three stores in Warrington. These stores are located off Fennel Street, Old Liverpool Road, and Thelwall Lane.

To find out more about the plans for Pinner’s Brow, search for application number 2023/00761/FUL on Warrington Council’s planning portal.

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]]> https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/lidl-eyes-fourth-warrington-location/feed/ 2 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/torus-castle-green-strike-150m-affordable-housing-deal/ https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/torus-castle-green-strike-150m-affordable-housing-deal/#respond Thu, 22 Jun 2023 10:26:31 +0000 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/?p=521639 A total of 589 homes will be available for mixed tenures across four sites in Crewe, Daresbury, Congleton, and Thornton under the housing provider and homebuilder’s partnership.

The post Torus, Castle Green strike £150m affordable housing deal appeared first on Place North West.

]]> A total of 589 homes will be available for mixed tenures across four sites in Crewe, Daresbury, Congleton, and Thornton under the housing provider and homebuilder’s partnership.

Torus Developments has invested £150m to provide affordable housing across the North West in a deal with Castle Green Homes.

The seven-year deal will deliver 589 affordable rent or shared ownership homes at Bridgewater View in Daresbury, Flowers Lane in Crewe, Viking Way in Congleton, and Orchard Place in Thornton.

Castle Green acquired the Daresbury site at Bridgewater View for £25m last June, which will introduce 85 affordable homes.

Torus will provide a further 204 properties in Crewe, 238 in Congleton, and 62 in Thornton.

These homes are expected to be complete by 2030.

Chris Bowen, managing director at Torus Developments, said: “This partnership is exciting for a number of reasons – first of all, it represents our commitment to working closely with Castle Green Homes as a key partner for the next few years, but secondly it highlights our dedication to investing, long term, in building great, affordable homes in schemes of sufficient scale to transform places.

“It is the type of partnership we are seeking with volume house builders to help boost supply with greater confidence in delivery”, he continued.

“Over the years, we have grown our development pipeline and I am thrilled to now be heading up a team delivering large-scale schemes and building thousands of new affordable homes in the next few years.”

Eoin O’Donnell, partnerships director for Castle Green Partnerships, part of Castle Green Homes, said: “We’re proud to have established strong links with Torus to deliver much-needed high-quality affordable homes over the coming years.

“This will initially increase the options available to people in Daresbury, Cheshire, with several other schemes in the pipeline across the North West of England.”

The post Torus, Castle Green strike £150m affordable housing deal appeared first on Place North West.

]]> https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/torus-castle-green-strike-150m-affordable-housing-deal/feed/ 0 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/1200-home-warrington-scheme-advances/ https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/1200-home-warrington-scheme-advances/#comments Mon, 19 Jun 2023 09:12:11 +0000 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/?p=521253 Countryside Partnerships and Torus have launched a consultation on a masterplan and design code to inform redevelopment proposals for more than 150 acres bordering the M62. 

The post 1,200-home Warrington scheme advances appeared first on Place North West.

]]> Countryside Partnerships and Torus have launched a consultation on a masterplan and design code to inform redevelopment proposals for more than 150 acres bordering the M62. 

The developers acquired the Peel Hall site in Warrington from Satnam Investments early this year for around £110m, as revealed by Place North West. 

The site, bordering the M62 to the north and Poplars Avenue, Windermere Avenue and Grasmere Avenue to the south, benefits from outline planning permission for 1,200 homes, which was granted following an appeal. 

Now, Countryside and Torus are seeking feedback on proposals that will inform a reserved matters planning application, due to be submitted this autumn. 

Alison Bembenek, associate director at Lichfields, which is advising on planning, said: “We’re excited to be working with Countryside Partnerships in bringing this consultation forward, we hope the events are well attended and look forward to engaging with the community on this scheme”.   

• View the online consultation

As well as homes, the wider Peel Hall masterplan could feature a primary school, local centre, care home, and family pub or restaurant. 

Subject to planning approval, construction could start in the middle of 2024, with the first homes due to be available the following year. 

The project team comprises architect Baldwin Design Consultancy, planner Lichfields, and Shape Engineering. 

Of the 1,200 homes, around 360 will be available on affordable tenures. 

The market sale homes will be delivered under three Countryside brands, Countryside itself, Linden Homes, and Bovis Homes. 

The developers are to provide around £9.3m of S106 contributions for education, highway improvements, bus infrastructure improvements, and biodiversity net gain. 

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]]> https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/1200-home-warrington-scheme-advances/feed/ 16 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/revised-trident-business-park-plans-set-for-approval/ https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/revised-trident-business-park-plans-set-for-approval/#respond Thu, 15 Jun 2023 10:53:02 +0000 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/?p=521161 St Modwen Logistics’ proposals to deliver more than 119,000 sq ft of warehouses at the industrial complex will go before Warrington Council's development management committee next Thursday.

The post Revised Trident Business Park plans set for approval appeared first on Place North West.

]]> St Modwen Logistics’ proposals to deliver more than 119,000 sq ft of warehouses at the industrial complex will go before Warrington Council’s development management committee next Thursday.

UMC Architects designed the scheme, which would see the construction of two industrial buildings off Warrington Road at Trident Business Park following the demolition of 91,600 sq ft of vacant offices and the 6,400 sq ft Noggin Inn pub on site.

St Modwen’s larger building would provide 77,000 sq ft of space, while the smaller one would provide 42,800 sq ft.

Met with community backlash in 2021, St Modwen reconfigured its plans for Trident Business Park to reduce its impact on the surrounding homes.

Updated proposals, submitted in April, have seen the proposed height of the largest building from 12.5 metres to 10 metres.

Also, a revised layout means that the warehouses would face away from nearby homes, reducing noise and light pollution.

Officers have recommended that the committee approve the project, despite having received 333 objections regarding concerns over traffic, wildlife, and the environment, as well as ongoing worries about the residential impact.

Planning Prospects is the planning consultant for the scheme.

To find out more about the plans, search for application number 2021/40696 on Warrington Council’s planning portal.

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]]> https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/revised-trident-business-park-plans-set-for-approval/feed/ 0 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/cabinet-signs-off-26m-warrington-intermediate-care-home/ https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/cabinet-signs-off-26m-warrington-intermediate-care-home/#respond Wed, 14 Jun 2023 10:52:43 +0000 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/?p=521086 The former Bewsey Old School site off Lockton Lane has been geared up for an 80-bed complex that would temporarily house those who need assistance while recovering from an illness or injury.

The post Cabinet signs off £26m Warrington intermediate care home appeared first on Place North West.

]]> The former Bewsey Old School site off Lockton Lane has been geared up for an 80-bed complex that would temporarily house those who need assistance while recovering from an illness or injury.

Warrington Council’s cabinet approved the essence of healthcare provider Warrington Place’s proposals at its meeting on Monday. The project will still require planning permission, with an application expected to be submitted soon.

The intermediate care centre would replace Warrington’s current intermediate care hubs at Padgate House and Brampton Lodge, which the council said were dated and lacked capacity. Those two centres offer only 49 beds.

Carl Marsh, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s place director for Warrington, described the need for the new care facility.

“Currently there are a number of patients with ‘no right to reside’ in hospital who are experiencing a delayed discharge, which can negatively impact on their health and wellbeing and ability to recover and regain their independence,” Marsh said.

“We recognise that by working together as a system to create a new care facility, we can help people to stay independent and well for longer, better manage demand and flow both in and out of the hospital and respite care, and manage current and future costs more effectively by delaying the need for long-term care services.”

In addition to 80 beds for patients to recover, the new facility would also contain offices, an area for a community care centre, and parking for 122 cars and ambulances. Warrington Place’s plans would see all of this, minus the parking, delivered across five wings and over three floors.

Regarding the project, statutory health and adult social care cabinet member Cllr Paul Warburton said: “The overall aim for this new facility is to enable more people to live independently for as long as possible, which impacts positively on outcomes for them and reduces the long-term cost of care, and it will also provide wider benefits across the whole health and care system in Warrington.”

Warrington Council’s preferred design for the intermediate care home has a capital cost of £25.8m. Funding is still being discussed with local partners and the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s Integrated Care Board.

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]]> https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/cabinet-signs-off-26m-warrington-intermediate-care-home/feed/ 0 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/cheshire-development-update-2023-photos-and-summary/ https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/cheshire-development-update-2023-photos-and-summary/#respond Wed, 14 Jun 2023 10:14:08 +0000 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/?p=520996 It was a feisty start for the Place North West event, with chair Dan Whelan asking if Cheshire was squandering opportunities for growth. What followed was a robust discussion on the property scene in the county and where potential areas for development are.

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]]> Is Cheshire squandering opportunities for growth?

Dan Whelan, senior reporter at Place North West, opened the annual Cheshire Development Update in feisty style with this question. The event, held at Chester Racecourse on 8 June, was sponsored by Waterman, Telcom, and Savills.

Opening up

One opportunity travelling at speed is the Chester City Gateway project – a partnership between developer LCR Property, Network Rail, and Cheshire West and Chester Council over the next 10 to 15 years. It has five priorities: the Chester Station experience, accessibility, high-quality public realm, and meeting local housing needs.

“Chester has a vibrant city centre but the area around the station is uninspiring,” said Peter Rowe, senior development manager at LCR, during the first, Chester-focused half of the conference.

To remedy the station’s “uninspiring” nature, the partnership is looking at creating a pedestrian and cycle-friendly route at Hoole Bridge to complement the existing road bridge.

Cllr Richard Beacham, deputy chair of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “Hoole Road is a really important corridor and the railway is a barrier. This is an opportunity to make it more permeable.”

Speaking more broadly about LCR’s projects, Rowe said: “We’re driven to deliver commercial return but, equally, public value is really important to us. It’s about housing delivery, public realm, job creation, and driving investment back into the railway.”

The event’s first panel was focused on Chester. From left: LCR Property’s Peter Lowe, University of Chester’s Eunice Simmons, Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Cllr Richard Beacham, Donald Insall Associates’ Tony Barton, Chester BID’s Andy Farrall. Credit: PNW

Changing trains

Professor Eunice Simmons, vice chancellor of the University of Chester, said her organisation was reacting to the way students operate – from promoting green travel to relocating the university’s base in Warrington to a central location between the town’s main railway stations.

The university’s out-of-town site is in the process of being sold. She added: “60% of our students are from the region; quite a few of them stay at home. People are looking for more adaptable ways to study so public transport is massively important.”

Opportunity knocks

Andy Farrall, board member at Chester BID, said: “The interesting thing about Chester is, for a historic city, it’s got huge opportunities for redevelopment. About half the city dates from about 1970 and it’s getting fairly elderly.

“I think there’s key promotional activity to do so the right developers see the sites and we need to be a bit more urgent to bring them forward to prove to the investment industry that development here is not difficult,” he continued.

Beacham added: “There are lots of opportunities for different levels of investment. We’ve got smaller building projects that are coming forward now that are conversions of under-used space into residential, which also helps us get more people living in the city.”

Tony Barton, chairman of architecture firm Donald Insall Associates, said: “People are seeing that the historic buildings aren’t the barrier to development. They’re the attraction. There’s lots of land all around them. People want high-quality housing. We need social housing as well. It’s got to be that mixture.”

Northgate Two

The council’s ambitious Northgate project was discussed, given the semi-recent completion of the £72m first phase which created a leisure destination in the heart of the city. An expected second phase would look to build on the land of the old Chester Market (a newer version of which now exists at Northgate) and its adjoining car park.

Quizzed about progress on this next phase of the Northgate redevelopment, Beacham said: “The council has already assembled the land, we’ve compulsory purchased parts that we need, so there is a red line around that site. We need to bring forward strategic framework in the same way we’re doing with City Gateway.”

Students want to live in Chester, but the offering just is not there yet, according to Chester BID’s Andy Farrall. Credit: PNW

Changing the estate

Simmons said the university is looking hard at how it uses its buildings – retrofitting, building sustainable extensions, and selling surplus stock.

She added: “It became really clear that we had to do something about the legibility and coherence of our estate. We’re a multi-faculty, middle-sized, middle-ranking university of about 15,000 students…

“The vast majority of students want to stay in this area so graduate housing is a real thing. There might be a developer out there amongst you who’s got an idea about what a housing model looks like that’s one step up from a hall of residence but not a luxury apartment building.”

Farrall added: “The Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership did a study six years ago which looked at young people. It identified three places: Crewe with HS2 (whenever that happens), Warrington because of its position and its connectivity, and the other one was Chester city centre, because of its lifestyle and character, and its attractiveness to younger people. But what they found was the offer wasn’t there.”

Browns update

Donald Insall’s Barton teased the audience with a ‘watch this space’ message when asked about the Browns of Chester and Grosvenor site. He said the Martin Property Group, the new owners, is actively working on plans for it and added: “Browns of Chester will be reborn.”

Beacham said: “Strategically, it’s a really important site. Now it’s got one solid owner for all of those buildings. It’ll be exciting to see what they do – and they’re listening.”

Difficult delivery

Asked about planning and development delays, Barton said: “You could say the same for almost any other attractive place in the UK – Chester probably got a reputation for being hard to do business. The thing is, Chester wasn’t built by a council. It was built by loads of people over time. We need to get back where the council’s there to oil the wheels. It’s not there to create the city.”

Simmons said: “It’s all about knowing your council and knowing what the priorities are. I think it’s a framing of a vision.”

Rowe said: “We need to work together as a collective, as an industry, and part of that is going out of our comfort zones. We need to not be afraid that we might get it wrong.”

Farrall said: “The last thing you need is a design framework for a place like Chester. It’s beautifully chaotic in terms of its design.”

The event’s second panel looked at the broader Cheshire and Warrington area. From left: Tatton Group’s Annette McDonald, Savills’ Jeremy Hinds, Maple Grove Developments’ Karen Hirst, and Warrington & Co’s John Laverick. Credit: PNW

Rural retreats

During the second panel presentation, Annette McDonald, deputy managing director of Tatton Group, described the wealth of projects her company was involved in, like the Parkgate Village development of 400 properties.

She also highlighted the new Tatton Services, in conjunction with Cumbria’s Westmorland Group, that is due before planners in July. Tatton Services will utilise a derelict farm as its location, integrating original buildings and creating a kitchen garden.

“It’s important to be agile and future thinking,” she said. “In terms of sustainability, we want to be pioneering and influential. It’s about partnership working across the geography. We say to local authorities ‘we can help you solve problems if you work with us’.”

No limits

Discussing the future of Cheshire and Warrington, Karen Hirst, managing director of Maple Grove Developments, said: “From a business perspective, business doesn’t look at the boundaries of counties. They’re just looking at places and opportunities where people want to live, work and play. It’s hard to get the coherent plan for the whole of Cheshire.”

However, she did praise the fact all the councils came together at UKREiiF, as did John Laverick, managing director of Warrington & Co.

Laverick added: “You’ve got Liverpool, Manchester, Midlands – all these people who have got something to say. It’s quite a big marketplace for Cheshire and Warrington to break into so if we do it separately, it’s not going to happen.”

‘I want to see centralisation in the sense of having a county model and capitalise on its strategic benefits,’ said Savills’ Jeremy Hinds. Credit: PNW

The mayoral debate

A show of hands in the room revealed only two people in favour of a mayor for Cheshire.

Jeremy Hinds, director at Savills, said: “The benefits of devolution arrived from economies of scale so it will work for Manchester, Liverpool, and so on. Cheshire is not a city, and the model that exists at the moment would not work for Cheshire. I want to see centralisation in the sense of having a county model and capitalise on its strategic benefits.”

Laverick added: “I think, more importantly, we get ourselves together so we have one voice in Cheshire and Warrington, and that we have proper conversations with our neighbours in Liverpool and Manchester. So, if you’re sat in Westminster and Liverpool, Manchester, and the combined authorities in Cheshire and Warrington want to come and speak to you, you’re going to speak to them, because that’s the whole of the North West, probably one of the most economically active parts of the UK.”

Hirst said: “What government wants to understand is who the accountable body is which is going to show them the money will go where it should to create jobs and homes.”

Changing places

Asked what Cheshire needed to become more collaborative and open for business, Hinds said: “A cohesive, coordinated narrative about the value, the virtues, the benefits, and the resources that this fabulous county has to offer.”

McDonald wanted more green energy opportunities to attract businesses, while Hirst said she wanted residents to treat it as a northwest hub for their careers, without boundary restrictions.

Laverick concluded: “How do we get weight behind our leaders in order to tell our story coherently? I think that’s the bit we really need to crack.”

Slides

Peter Rowe, LCR Property

Annette McDonald, Tatton Group

What’s next?

Place is heading to Kendal tomorrow for our Cumbria Development Update conference. Tickets are still available. Next week, the Place team will be hosting our Liverpool Summer Social on 22 June. Book your tickets.

Click any image to launch gallery

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]]> https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/cheshire-development-update-2023-photos-and-summary/feed/ 0 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/more-than-100-homes-lined-up-in-warrington/ https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/more-than-100-homes-lined-up-in-warrington/#comments Mon, 12 Jun 2023 14:46:09 +0000 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/?p=520899 Richborough Estates has submitted an outline planning application for up to 110 homes on Green Belt land off Manchester Road in Hollins Green.

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]]> Richborough Estates has submitted an outline planning application for up to 110 homes on Green Belt land off Manchester Road in Hollins Green.

While the 10.5-acre plot is designated Green Belt, it is also set to be removed from protected status in the draft Warrington Local Plan, which is currently undergoing a second round of consultation on recommended modifications from the Planning Inspectorate.

According to the local plan, the site will be suitable for accommodating a minimum of 90 homes.

The land promoter’s proposals would go above that number, also providing open space, a play area, and cycle and pedestrian links. The scheme has been designed by Nineteen47, with plans submitted by Asteer Planning.

“Our proposed development will provide a mixture of high-quality, family homes that will help address the borough’s housing needs,” said Harry Jackson, regional manager at Richborough Estates.

“We’re pleased to have submitted this planning application after community consultation and look forward to its delivery once planning permission has been secured.”

Paul Nellist, associate partner at Asteer, said that the company had been working closely with the council throughout the pre-application period.

“Great care has been taken to ensure that the proposals for this scheme are sensitively designed and take into account all of the considerations and opportunities provided by the local area and surroundings,” Nellist said.

In addition to Asteer and Nineteen47, the project team includes RammSanderson, E3P, Tyler Grange, and HUB. BWB Consulting is advising air quality, energy, noise, sustainable drainage, and flood risk.

More details can be found by searching application reference number 2023/00660/OUTM on the Warrington Council planning portal.

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]]> https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/more-than-100-homes-lined-up-in-warrington/feed/ 5 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/collapsed-lane-end-owed-13m/ https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/collapsed-lane-end-owed-13m/#comments Thu, 08 Jun 2023 10:01:58 +0000 https://www.placenorthwest.co.uk/?p=520704 Increases in supply costs and delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic rendered the Warrington-based contractor’s pre-pandemic contracts unprofitable and unviable, according to administrator Quantuma Advisory.

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]]> Increases in supply costs and delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic rendered the Warrington-based contractor’s pre-pandemic contracts unprofitable and unviable, according to administrator Quantuma Advisory.

The administrator’s report for Lane End Developments Construction, released last week, described a company unable to recover from the pandemic’s aftermath, despite prolonged talks with a potential overseas investor. This potential deal could still be struck as negotiations are ongoing.

Lane End was formed in January 2016 and has delivered more than 1,100 homes across the North West. The company’s net profits plummeted from £397,480 in 2020 to $177,479 in 2022.

This year, Lane End was not able to pay its bills, including employee wages.

When administrators were appointed in April, Lane End owed £13m to creditors, of which £12m was owed to suppliers. The remaining is owed to the company’s 112 now-redundant employees.

The full administration report is available on Companies House.

Upon its collapse, Lane End was working on various North West projects, including 77 homes in Llandudno with ClwydAlyn and 60 homes in Wigan with Torus. Lane End was also working with Onward Homes on 130 homes in Basford East and 220 homes in Helsby.

When asked about the schemes’ futures shortly after Lane End entered administration, an Onward Homes spokesperson said: “Onward remains committed to delivering for local people at our development sites in Basford East and Helsby. Work is underway to ensure we deliver quality new homes to meet the variety of local need, including homes for affordable rent and shared ownership.”

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