THE future of Bewsey Old Hall is hanging in the balance as a planning appeal takes place this week.

Developers Urban Splash says its plans to convert the building into seven flats with 48 additional apartments nearby will preserve the future of the Grade II listed building and moated site.

But Warrington Borough Council is arguing against the scheme – saying it is not in keeping with Sankey Valley Park and that the potential use of the hall by the public will be lost.

The council’s planning officers originally recommend that the blueprints were approved.

However, when councillors refused the scheme last July Urban Splash launched an appeal and Government inspector Colin Ball is hearing evidence at The Halliwell Jones Stadium with the hearing expected to finish tomorrow, Thursday.

Speaking on yesterday, Urban Splash solicitor Giles Cannock criticised councillors for ignoring national policy by objecting to the style and design of the new building, saying they “should not attempt to impose architectural styles or particular tastes and they should not stifle innovation”.

He said the hall has been in a ‘dilapidated’ condition since the 1970s and aside from park rangers using its kitchen has been unoccupied since the Second World War.

He said site security, landscaping and vandalism repairs cost taxpayers £57,000 last year – with police and firefighters called out to two arson and vandalism attacks last month.

And claiming that while the two applications were refused on July 2 the reasons for refusal were “mysteriously” not formulated until August 13, Mr Cannock argued that the hall has never been ‘open’ to the public and that experts consider there are no features of historic or architectural interest within the building.

He said: “If there is no current access to the interior of the building and no features of historic or architectural interest within the interior of the hall then self-evidently, it cannot be lost.”

He added that developers would create a ‘heritage asset’ for the enjoyment of the public with educational boards outside, that the car park would be an ‘optimal’ secure design and that eight affordable properties would also be created.

However, council solicitor Matthew Copeland said the conversion of the hall would prevent the public from having access to the building in the future.

He said the new building would have a negative effect on the appearance of the park and its surroundings due its design and size, which he described as “a large metallic box which has no regard to the character of the park or the listed building.”

He said that the car park under that building would not be secure because it would be out of sight and would attract nuisance youths.

And he added that the development is not needed because of the large housing surplus in the town.

He said: “We say the public have had access to the hall in the past and should continue to have that opportunity in the future.”

Westbrook councillor Bernard Long (LD), who was the deputy chairman of the planning committee at the time of the refusal, said the plans were “unacceptable” as the potential of the site would be lost.