New plan to build Warrington’s tallest building

A CONTROVERSIAL plan for a 25-storey tower block in the centre of Warrington which shocked councillors earlier this year looks set to be dropped.
Developers have now put forward an alternative scheme with a tower block only 12-storeys high.
But the scheme on land currently used as a car park at the junction of Winwick Street and Tanners Lane would still involve around 550 apartments and it is still planned to include a 140-bed hotel in the scheme.  And the central feature would still become the highest building in the town.
The original scheme involved 550 apartments and a 160-bed hotel in four tower blocks up to 25-storeys high – one storey higher that London’s ill-fated Grenfell Tower and 16 storeys higher that Warrington’s tallest existing building, the nine-storey Kingsway House.
Offices and shops were also proposed.
Members of the borough council’s development management committee were shocked by the scheme – one councillor describing it as “monstrous.”
They deferred a decision – even though planning officers were recommending it for approval.
The 1.2 hectare site, which is currently a car park and car wash facility, is owned by the borough council.
Nearby are two Grade 2 listed public houses, The Kings Head in Winwick Street and the Three Pigeons in Tanners Lane. Also nearby are University Technical College and The Base buildings, as well as the site for the new Warrington Youth Zone.
A number of other Listed buildings and heritage assets also occupy nearby sites.
At the time, the developers said it would be nonviable to reduce the size of the scheme.