Unit 1A Riverside , Warrington

Design & Access Statement - April 2014 140124-PL-D&A-160414

1 Introduction

The following statement has been prepared by 3DReid in support of the application Full Planning Permission for the new build retail unit situated between units 1 and 2 to be know as unit 1A at the Riverside Retail Park Warrington. This statement should be read in conjunction with the following associated documents submitted in support of the application;

140124-10-001C Location Plan 140124-10-002A Existing Site Elevations 140124-10-003A Existing Site Plan

140124-D-001B Proposed Location Plan 140124-D-002B Proposed Ground, Mezzanine & Roof Plans 140124-D-003B Proposed Elevations and Signage Zones 140124-D-004B Proposed Site Plan

Retail Statement Transport Statement

Flood Risk Assessment

2 Assessment & Evaluation

2 Assessment

Physical Context

The site is contained within Riverside Retail Park, which is located adjacent to both the A49/ A5061 junction, and the River Mersey within Warrington town centre. Riverside Retail Park contains 14 units; 12 of which are A1 use units ranging in size from between 7,500ft2 and 35,500ft2 (GEA). These units form the northern and eastern boundaries of the visitor parking area on site. In addition to these units there are two A3 restaurant units on the southern and western extremeties of the site. To the immediate north of the site is a series of commercial/ industrial units which continue and bleed into the grain of the rest of the town centre. To the east of the site is a that also features a small number of commercial and industrial units. View of site from front The retail park was developed post-1993 with the site formerly being used for industrial purposes. The application site is unit 1A, which will be a new unit built in the gap which currently exists between units 1 and 2.

View of site from rear

Aerial view 4 Siting

Unit 1A is sited on the northern part of the site, and sits between units 1 and 2. It is framed by large A1 units to the west and east, with the highway access to the west and River Mersey to the south.

Parr Street

Sutton Street

Wharf Street Residential Industrial/ Commercial Class- A1 Class - A3

Building Heights

Within the retail park there are two heights of present that relate to the specific uses occurring in the .The two A3 use offers on the lower half of the retail park are one in height while the remaining A1 units are two storeys in height. In immediate proximity of the site there are two storey structures to the north and the east. To the north there are commercial units that are of a similar height to the retail park units. To the east are a number of domestic properties that although being two storeys in height are significantly lower in height than the commercial buildings because of smaller floor to floor heights.

Parr Street

Sutton Street

Wharf Street 1 Storey 2 Storeys (Domestic) 2 Storeys (Commercial) 5 Design & Accessibility

3 Accessibility

The site lies within the Riverside Retail Park, Warrington, to the North of the River Mersey. The access to the retail park is to the west (adjoining Unit 13) from Wharf Street, close to the intersection of the A49 and the A5061. The retail park is reasonably level and is served by a surface level car park. The proposed Unit 1A will consist of ground floor and mezzanine level. The mezzanine will be accessed by a stair immediately to the left of the main entrance. A passenger lift is also provided in the same area. To the rear of the store within the back of area, a staff/emergency exit stair is provided on the east of the store. An emergency exit opposite the foot of the stair exits the building adjacent to the boundary with unit 2. A goods entrance is also provided on the back (north) elevation into the goods yard. A goods lift is provide within the back of house area. The new customer entrance to the building will be level and fully accessible with sliding automatic doors provided. The approach to the store is off the existing concourse which runs around the perimeter of the car park and immediately in front of the entrances to all the A1 units. Being situated in-between the first and second retail units, the development of this plot offers a natural expansion to the park, without the new site being obtrusive. It also helps to activate a dark unused corner of the site in a prominent location, while creating a safer environment.

Left Existing elevations of gap site from car park (south), service yard (north) and west elevation of unit 2.

Looking north from southern boundary Birdseye looking north

Entrance to service yard from northern boundary View from service yard of site 7 Use

The site is currently vacant, housing only a security portacabin. The site is only accessible from the service yard and occasionaly is used as staff parking. The new tenant will be class A1 use, and will be a Halfords.

Amount

The proposed development involves the creation of a new retail unit situated between units 1 and 2 of the current development. At present the vacant gap site is shielded from the pedestrian areas of the retail park by a free standing brick wall with cabin behind. The new unit will provide 7500sqft (697sqm) of class A1 retail space at ground floor level with a further 5610 sqft (522 sqm) at mezzanine level. This gives a total area of 13110sqft.

Layout

The new unit with be approached off the main concourse with automatic sliding doors positioned centrally. On entering the store the front of house retail area extends circa 4/5th of the depth of the unit with back of house facilities thereafter. To the left of the main entrance are the stairs and passenger lift to the mezzanine area. A double height void is off centre to the east of the store extending roughly half the way back within the front of house sales area. The mezzanine also has a back of house storage area which also accommodates staff facilities, kitchen/dining area and toilets. The back of house area on the mezzanine level is also served by a goods lift and escape stair. The improvements to the external environment will build on the initiative of the Waterfront Strategic Masterplan which looks to revitalize the land south of the town centre including the Riverside Retail Park.

Primary External Materials

The materials forming the external skin of the new buildings are to be red-mix brick piers and brick panels at the base of the unit, with metal composite rain screen panels above, the colour of which will match the current panels. This will maintain consistency with the rest of the park, filling in a gap site while completing the run of units. This will be reflect on the north, south and west facades. The main entrance doors on the south facade will be formed with aluminium powder coated curtain walling with automatic entrance doors. The entrance will also be highlighted by a feature steel frame and glass curved canopy incorporating rear illuminated flex-face signage zones for individual tenant signage, reflecting those of the other units. This will again help to stitch the new unit seamlessly into the existing fabric of the park. The roof will be constructed using insulated composite panels behind a parapet. All gutters, facings and edging to match the current materials on site. They will also be colour matched to ensure consistency.

Car Park Provision

The car park provision is included within the provision of the main retail park complex. (Please refer to Transport Statement)

Servicing and Waste Management

The existing service yard will remain unchanged and all servicing from the unit will be from this area.

Sustainability

Facilitating new development at accessible brownfield urban sites is a highly sustainable form of development. For retail use, the application site is an appropriate use for the location as it will provide oppertunities for a single trip to serve several purposes.

Signage

The principle signage will be internally lit. The proposals will meet the commercial needs of the tenant. The proposal locations have also been designed to sit with the design of the existing building units on the south elevation of the park. The signage proposals for the tenant (Halfords) will be applied for separately under an Advertising consent application.

Manifestation:

Glazed entrances doors will be provided with logo manifestation, dimensions 100 x 100mm, located at two levels, 900mm and 1400mm AFFL to the foods entrance. Manifestation will also be provide to any glazed screens within the building except for those at levels above ground which form edge protection to the atrium.

8 Above: Proposed ground floor and mezzanine plans 1 - Red mix brick to match existing Below: Proposed elevations. 2 - Cladding panels to match existing 3 - Poweder coated aluminium curatin walling 4 - Roof composite insulated panels 5 - Signage zone over cladding panels.

9 Summary

Building Size and Specification

>>New build of Unit 1A >>Ground floor area 7500sqft >>Mezzanine floor area 5610sqft

Environment

>>Infill between 2 existing units to complete elevations street scape >>Located close to mass transport interchanges >>Work with the Waterfront Strategic Masterplan Framework

Construction Materials

>>Red mix brick and metal cladding to tie in with existing material >>Insulated composite panel to tie in with existing roof scape >>Feature curved steel and glass canopy to tie in with all other class A1 retail units on the park >>Polyester powder coated aluminum curtain walling with automatic entrance double doors

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