Work starts on £1.5m Birchwood Community Hub
Contractor Schofield and Sons began the transformation of the town’s leisure and tennis complex off Benson Road yesterday, to provide a library, cycle studio, and refurbishments to existing facilities.
Work will take place in four phases so that the centre can remain open.
The first phase will deliver a group cycle studio on the ground floor of the community hub, as well as refurbished changing rooms.
The transformation of the ground floor bar will follow for phase two of the project. The bar will be replaced with an open-plan library, with a children’s and digital area. Birchwood’s current library located off Brock Road will be relocated here.
Moving up to the first floor for the third phase of renovations, the existing fitness studio will be expanded to be used for group classes
The final phase of work will see the refurbishment of the building’s entrance and foyer.
All works are expected to complete late this summer.
Warrington Council is funding the £1.5m scheme.
Council leader, Cllr Russ Bowden, said: “We have been able to use the income generated from the sale of the former [St Oliver Plunket School] site… to invest back into community facilities that will benefit people living in Birchwood and neighbouring areas.”
Cllr Tony Higgins, cabinet member for leisure and communities, added: “The redevelopment of the existing leisure and library sites in Birchwood is great news and will significantly benefit people living in the local community.”
To find out more about the plans, search for application number 2022/41560 on Warrington Council’s planning portal.
