Former Cheshire community centre could get new lease of life

Plans have been submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council to convert part of the former Winsford Neighbourhood Centre on Cheviot Square for use as a commercial property.

The Winsford Community Centre had once been home to groups ranging from amateur dramatics and youth organisations, to careers advisors and church groups.

But an application to the council’s planning department said that after closing in November 2013, it had since fallen into disrepair and attracted ‘significant levels‘ of crime and anti-social behaviour.

The application, by Manchester-based New Park Group Ltd, said: "Given the size of the property and the costs involved in putting the property back into good repair the existing planning use is therefore no longer viable.

"The application proposal therefore aims to bring the property back into a viable and active commercial use which will be of benefit to the local community."

According to planning documents, the site was originally built in the early 1970s as a retail unit and was subject to a planning application for a change of use to a neighbourhood centre in 1981.

It was used as such until November, 2013 when it closed permanently and has been vacant ever since.

The property is arranged over two floors, but the application only relates to the ground floor at this stage with the first floor to be secured and dedicated stairway access retained to the rear and side elevations.

No end user is listed in the planning documents, but among the possible uses identified are dental, medical, restaurant/café, retail, education or fitness.

The application concluded: "By granting planning consent for the change of use, the application will deliver a range of economic, social and environmental benefits whilst enhancing the vitality and viability of the local area.

"The application is therefore wholly appropriate in terms of both national and local planning policy."