Flats plan for former office site
DEVELOPERS have applied to convert a former Runcorn office building into 241 flats. Castle View House on East Lane has an existing permission for 188 units, 87 of which would be one-bed flats, 77 studios and 24 two-bed.
Now developers, Lettings Agents Ltd has lodged a bid to turn it into 241 flats, comprising 184 one-bed units, 45 twobed and 12 studios.
As the request is for a change of use from office to residential premises, full planning permission is not required and Halton Borough Council development chiefs will be tasked with deciding whether it needs ‘prior approval’.
This means the elected members will only be able to consider the following four factors in making their decision: transport and highways impacts, contamination risk, flooding risk and the noise impact from commercial premises on the intended occupiers of the development.
A report published ahead of the decision meeting, scheduled to take place on Monday, June 5, said there are 160 parking spaces on site.
It said a highways officer has said its former use as an office and its proposed use as flats would have a similar amount of vehicle usage.
In addition the lack of historic contaminative uses has ruled out any need for an assessment.
Its annual flood risk is deemed as less than one in 1,000. ●
In terms of noise for residents, the council’s reporting officer said that sounds from commercial premises would not have a ‘significantly detrimental impact’ on those living there.
Halton Council said it has received four representations over the proposals, with objectors arguing that the area does not need more homes and is lacking in amenities.
The author of the report concluded that prior approval is not needed.
Castle View House shut in 2013 to the chagrin of more than 200 Department For Employment (DfE) employees who were relocated to Manchester.
The DfE sold it to Craig Blackwell & Consortium for £900,000 in 2015 after turning down a £1 offer from the council.
The building lies within the proposed NHS Runcorn Healthy New Town area.