Firm hints project is set for green light
A“CONSTRUCTION intelligence” firm has issued a strong hint that a major Runcorn building project is likely to be given the goahead.
Barbour ABI, which described itself as a market leader in providing contract leads and other potentially lucrative information to the building industry, tweeted that regeneration works at East Lane in Runcorn are due to start in January 2022.
The tweet was accompanied by a CGI image previously published in local and regional press portraying the proposed redevelopment of East Lane House.
Shah Capital, which owns East Lane House, filed plans in March to part-demolish and part-refurbish the large former Employment Department office, which has blighted Runcorn new town with dereliction for about 20 years.
The road-facing portion would be redeveloped as a “boutique” hotel with a rooftop restaurant and bar, and the remainder of the site would be demolished and replaced with a 66-bedroom care home, three blocks of flats with 144 units, and nine houses.
A planning document filed at the time estimated the project value at £62m.
Regeneration works to East Lane House in Runcorn are due to begin in January 2022.
Although Halton Borough Council set a target decision date of June 15, this year, the project remains classed as “pending consideration”.
Once ready for consideration for decision, the matter will go before a vote of the local authority’s elected development control committee.
A Halton Council spokeswoman said in July there were a “couple” of outstanding submissions before the plans can go to committee.
There are hopes the plans could kickstart the area’s wider regeneration and reinvigorate its quality of life.
It isn’t clear from Barbour ABI’s tweet why it seems confident works will begin in January but the firm has allocated the scheme a “project ID”.