Cheshire: Plans would see new affordable housing created

Plans submitted to Warrington Borough Council highlight developers' ambitions to transform a disused building on Bridge Street into a communal living space with 10 bedrooms.

The developers suggest that 127 and 129-131 Bridge Street could be transformed into affordable housing.

The rear of the building in question (Image: Paul Butler Associates)

Documents available on the council's planning portal highlight that the building has been vacant since two takeaways closed down in recent years - 125 Bridge Street has been vacant since 2019, and 129-131 has been empty since 2015.

If approved, these plans would give legal permission for the building's use to be changed to '0 Bed House of Multiple Occupation [HMO] with associated alterations.'

The developers, Property Touch Ltd, say: "The HMO will be targeted to private residents seeking an affordable housing solution in the local area.

"These are likely to be young professionals working within the Warrington area, on lower wages who could not afford to rent and pay all the bills associated with a one-bed apartment on their own, or who prefer to share with others and live in a high spec co-living house which they could not afford otherwise."

The developers say that there would be no need for dedicated car parking to be created to service the HMO project, but 10 spaces for bike storage are included in the initial plans.

It is noted that the project would not be able to go ahead without obtaining an HMO licence from the council, which would require inspectors to visit the property and approve of its conditions - something that developers say would ensure the high quality of the accommodation.

The interior of the buildings have not been used since the takeaways closed down - the most recent of which was in 2019 (Image: Paul Butler Associates)

Each of the 10 HMO bedrooms would have ensuites associated with them, and two of the proposed bedrooms would be located on the ground floor of the development.

Four bedrooms would be found on the first floor, and another four on the second floor.

The plans state: "The scheme will provide a generous communal living space for residents on the ground floor of the property including a large open plan kitchen, living and dining space.

"A utility/laundry is also provided on the ground floor."

This application was submitted to the council this month, and validated on November 28 - a decision is due to be made by January 23, and the public consultation ends on December 19.