A ROW of buildings on a main street in Warrington town centre can be brought back into use, the council has confirmed.

Plans had been submitted to Warrington Borough Council seeking prior approval consent for numbers 133 to 135 on Bridge Street.

Applicant Parkhurst Properties sought a change of use from commercial property to a mixed use for commercial and residential purposes.

This is in the form of retaining a commercial use on the ground floor, while creating provisions for a four-bed flat across the first and second floors.

Planning documents state: “The site forms part of a row of terraced properties located on the east side of Bridge Street.

“The properties are currently vacant. They were last used as recruitment consultant offices.

“The proposals involve the change of use of the buildings from a commercial use to a mixed use, comprising a commercial use on the ground floor and a residential flat on the first and second floors.

“The proposed flat will exceed nationally described space standards. No external alterations are required to facilitate the proposed conversion.”

Council planners ruled that prior approval consent was required for the development, with this being granted.

The council said: “The development is considered to amount to ‘permitted development’, subject to prior approval matters of contamination, flooding, noise, natural light and the storage and management of domestic waste.

“The development is assessed to have acceptable impacts in relation to contamination, flooding and natural light.

“In relation to noise and the storage and management of waste, work to the premises is required, or further detail is required to be submitted to the local authority for approval.

“These details have been conditioned, and with these conditions the proposal is assessed to have an acceptable impact in relation to noise and the storage and management of waste.

“Prior approval is therefore required and granted.”