Hilden House Warrington Caro Developments

Hilden House was built in the 1970s and formerly housed the DFWP. Credit: via Merrion Strategy

Caro proposes £18m office-to-resi in Warrington

The Liverpool-based developer has submitted a planning application to turn the vacant Hilden House office building into 100 one-bed apartments.

Savills is advising on planning and heritage, with architect Falconer Chester Hall and structural engineer Clancy also key to the project.

Hilden House enjoys a prime position opposite Warrington’s Georgian town hall and the 17-acre Bank Park. Caro Developments’ proposals would come under permitted development rights.

Proposed amenities include a concierge, fully equipped gym and wellness room, residents’ lounge and co-working area, as well as a dedicated secure parcel room.

An application was submitted last week, with Caro managing director Neil Carlyle committing to begin work immediately, should consent be granted.

“This is a superb location that will allow us to provide high-specification homes that contribute towards the council’s strategy of boosting the number of town centre residents.

“We will set a new benchmark for quality and for rental levels and will begin work promptly on receipt of consent.”

The 52,400 sq ft building rises to five storeys, with an exposed white concrete frame and dark brick cladding. Its position within the Town Hall Conservation Area means any façade modifications will have to be sympathetic to the surrounding area.

Robert Brym, associate director at architect FCH said: “The building offers us a pleasing urban aesthetic with scope to use updated fenestration to give it a very contemporary feel amidst the redbrick palette of the surrounding streets.

“It’s a very sustainable location and by utilising adaptive reuse we’ll reduce the environmental impact of the project through the generation of less waste and reduced demand for energy.”

The development would offer 58 car parking spaces and cycle and bin storage to the rear, accessed via Winmarleigh Street.

Built in 1977, Hilden House was previously used by the Department for Work and Pensions. The building was acquired from Elite UK Real Estate Investment Trust in November 2024 for £3.3m, subject to planning.

Other Caro projects include a 250-flat student accommodation scheme in Liverpool’s Fabric District with TJ Morris, approved last summer, and a previously stalled project off Vauxhall Road, also in Liverpool.

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