Gaining approval for new city centre living in Chorley

What we did

The 11-storey scheme has been designed to complement the adjacent Chorley Town Hall and other historic or listed buildings located nearby.

It will provide a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments split over the first to eleventh storeys with a roof terrace above and three ground-floor commercial units.

The apartment will be paramount in the regeneration of Chorley town centre, made available for young professionals and families. The ground floor retail units will boost the local economy by providing space for independent businesses and drive footfall to the town centre.

Early engagement with the council helped ensure that key considerations, such as design, scale, and accessibility, were addressed from the outset. We also coordinated technical inputs to support the application and ensured that the proposal responded positively to its town centre context.

One of the key challenges was the site’s proximity to the Grade II-listed bus station. We worked collaboratively with the architect and heritage consultant to shape a proposal that respected the station’s setting, resulting in carefully considered elevations that formed a central part of the approved scheme.

Viability was also a crucial consideration. A detailed viability assessment was undertaken, and we engaged proactively with planning officers to present a robust case. These discussions successfully demonstrated that, in this instance, the scheme could not support affordable housing or financial contributions without compromising deliverability, a position that was ultimately accepted by the council.

The proposal received strong support, and planning permission was granted in April 2024. The development will contribute to the ongoing regeneration of Chorley town centre, providing much-needed housing while making effective use of a long-vacant site.