UK: A listed former bank building in Warrington town centre is set to be turned into an aparthotel.
Warrington Borough Council has received a planning application from developer YP Group Limited to convert the former Natwest branch on Winwick Street into an aparthotel with 16 guest keys.
The Victorian building – which is grade II-listed and dates back to 1877 – has been vacant since the bank closed in late 2015, and is now in a state of disrepair. The bank still retains many of its original features, and YP Group says that it plans to retain as many of these historic features of significance as possible.
Proposals for the building include internal and external alterations and a car park with space for 11 vehicles. Guest rooms will be housed on the first and second floors, while the ground floor will be used as a reception area, lounge, lobby and office space.
Planning application documents state: “The building is in a state of disrepair and has suffered from water ingress, resulting in damage to the internal walls and architectural detailing. Irrespective of its current condition, the building is no longer suitable for the requirements of modern banking. This is perhaps best illustrated by way of the current UK trend in high street bank closures and the move towards online banking. Without investment and an alternative use, the building will continue to fall into a state of disrepair. This could, in time, lead to more serious structural problems – thus harming the significance of the grade two-listed heritage asset. A bank can no longer be considered the optimum viable use of the building – the proposed aparthotel will restore the building back into productive economic use, thus ensuring its structural integrity and its long-term maintenance and conservation. The plans will enhance the significance of the prominent heritage asset along a gateway route within the town centre and will secure a multitude of other public benefits.” </p
