Runcorn & Widnes Weekly News

Clock ticking on clean-up

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● DETAILS of the untidy land notice slapped on the owners of a dilapidate­d Runcorn eyesore have been released as the deadline looms for when the cleanup works need to be finished.

Halton Borough Council issued the Section 215 demand on Shah Capital Limited after pressure from Labour MP Mike Amesbury and Halton Lea ward councillor­s over the state of the former East Lane House government office near Runcorn Shopping City.

The clock is now ticking for the works to be completed.

A Halton Council spokesman said the notice was served on June 20 and will take 28 days to come into effect, followed by 28 days for the works to be completed, giving Shah Capital until about August 15.

The notice has required Shah Capital to remove all external graffiti, remove all weeds and overgrown vegetation from outside the building, board up all open windows and doorways with the same material, and remove and lawfully dispose of all litter on the land.

Weaver Vale Labour MP Mr Amesbury said asbestos will also be removed.

East Lane House has planning permission in place for 448 one-bed flats, 394 of them studios.

Shah Capital bought the building in autumn 2016 for £1.65m at auction.

The building has had a troubled history.

Planning permission for the flats was granted in 2015 on appeal to the Planning Inspectora­te after councillor­s refuse to approve it following public outcry and fears the accommodat­ion would become ‘the slums of the future’.

The initial applicant Absolute Living Developmen­ts has since gone bust amid allegation­s of leaving investors out of pocket.

The Weekly News tried to contact Shah Capital for comment.

 ??  ?? East Lane House in Runcorn
East Lane House in Runcorn

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