Homeless flats set for site of demolished council office in Bewsey

Warrington Borough Council is set to rule on plans to build six one-bed apartment units and a one-bed staff accommodation unit in a two-storey building in Bewsey, as well as four parking spaces.

The site is on the corner of Troutbeck Avenue and Longshaw Street, which was formerly home to a council rent office building that was demolished back in 2014.

The scheme will go before the council’s development management committee at the Town Hall on Thursday, due to the land being council-owned

However, a report prepared in advance of the meeting recommends that the plans be approved subject to conditions.

According to applicant Warrington Borough Council, the building would house independent but supported living apartments for high-needs homeless young people, including care leavers, and accommodation reserved for a 24-hour, on-site care manager.

It is also intended that the manager’s accommodation will be used for meetings and de-briefing requirements during staff change-overs.

Plans state: “The proposal is sought to support the council’s housing and homelessness team in providing accommodation to reduce the number of 18 to 25-year-olds at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

“The children’s social care team will also benefit from the proposal as young people in placements post-18 years can be moved on into the proposed single homelessness accommodation programme units, thereby freeing up a placement to allow movement for children needing placements.

“This scheme has come forward as the council has been identified by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities as a borough that would benefit from addressing homelessness and risk of homelessness in the younger population, specifically 18 to 25-year-olds.

The former council office before it was demolished. Picture: Google Maps

“The project is part funded by a £200million Government initiative which aims to deliver up to 2,400 homes and support services for people sleeping rough or at risk of homelessness by provided supported housing.

“Homes England will provide 50 per cent of the construction costs, which will be match funded by the council, with Homes England funding the support staff for the first three years.”

A similar council application at a nearby site – formerly a nursery on Longshaw Street which has since been demolished – will also go before planners, is recommended for approval and is expected will operate in conjunction with this application.

No letters of objection or support were submitted by residents in relation to the plans.

In recommending approval, planning officers said: “The principle of a supported residential development at the site is considered acceptable.

“It is further considered that overall, subject to conditions, the scheme would not have any unacceptably adverse impacts on residential or visual amenity or the highway network.

“The proposal would also bring a vacant site back into a sustainable use and offers substantial health and social benefits by meeting an identified housing need in the borough.

“The proposal also offers some benefits in terms of upgrading the ecological value of the site.

“The proposal complies with planning policies, and it is therefore recommended that planning permission be granted subject to conditions.”