Altered/Space unveils Warrington shopping centre revamp

Proposals to downsize Cockhedge Shopping Park by nearly 25% will enable the building of 900 homes nearby, according to the developer.

Under plans submitted by Lichfields, Altered/Space would demolish 16 units at the shopping centre, totalling 63,000 sq ft. Also on the chopping block is a pedestrian bridge extending over Scotland Road.

To replace the demolished shops, the developer would reconfigure 7,000 sq ft to create four modern external facing units, designed by Like Architects.

Adding to Altered/Space’s to-do list: improving the shopping centre’s public realm with the help of landscape architect Park Hood and creating new entrances to the mall.

Reworked public realm at the shopping destination will help revitalise the space. Credit: via Rumpus PR

Altered/Space’s plans for the retail park are part of its £99m Cockhedge Masterplan, which will see the creation of 226,000 sq ft of commercial space and up to 900 apartments on nearly seven acres of brownfield off Scotland Road in Warrington’s town centre.

Altered/Space is delivering the Cockhedge masterplan alongside Warrington & Co, Warrington Council’s regeneration arm.

Approval for the masterplan was granted in August 2022.

Altered/Space director Michael Brown said his company’s plans would “deliver a downsized, yet enhanced commercial offering breathing new life into an already popular retail destination”.

Altered/Space is also active in Sale, where it is delivering the £70m Stanley Square regeneration.