THE first application to begin the process of demolishing the disused Unilever site behind Bank Quay station has arrived.

The document, which is an application to begin the screening process, asks Warrington Borough Council to determine whether demolition of the site is viable.

Emails between those involved indicate that demolition work could begin as early as November this year.

Unilever's site will be a familiar sight to anyone visiting Warrington Bank Quay train station.

The site fell into disuse in 2020 after being in service for 130 years - dating the factory back to the 1890s.

Screening applications for the proposed demolition state that the plans would involve disruption to the Bank Quay railway line.

The application also states that there are no current plans for a new development on the site.

It is proposed that the demolition would take place over a 10-month period, involving around 50 wagon collections of waste each week.

Warrington Guardian: The highlighted area shows how large the disused site is, and how close it is to the train stationThe highlighted area shows how large the disused site is, and how close it is to the train station (Image: Maps)

Documents suggest that the proposed demolition of the site would create more than 35,000 tonnes of waste - plans suggest that 99.4 per cent of all waste will be recycled.

The site on Factory Lane is currently in the screening process, and if permission is granted then the demolition works will commence in November, due for completion in October 2023.