Work starts on Warrington’s business hub
WARRINGTON Borough Council has started work on an £8.5m centre for business start-ups in the town centre.
The 50,000 sq ft five-storey building will occupy the site of the former Dallam Centre in Dallam Lane at the heart of the £190m Stadium Quarter project – 90 acres of offices, leisure and residential space between the Warrington Wolves stadium and Warrington Central railway station.
There will also be a university technical college (UTC) focusing on nuclear and energy engineering which was given the green light by the Government in January.
The council is committing £6.7m from its capital programme and has secured £1.7m from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Work is due to start later in the year. The building has been designed by Liverpool-based Falconer Chester Hall Architects and the work is being carried out by ISG’s construction arm. It is expected to open next year and have the capacity to support 100 businesses.
Council leader Terry O’Neill said: “This is an historic day for Warrington. This start on site will not only provide a first class base in which new businesses can develop and grow, and Warrington is recognised as the number one location outside of London for Business start- ups, but it is also marks the start on site of Stadium Quarter. Warrington’s town renaissance is now underway. With a start on site of the £52m Bridge Street regeneration project scheduled and on track for January this is a pivotal and exciting moment.”
A ground breaking ceremony was attended by Labour MP Dame Tessa Jowell, a former colleague of Nick Bent, the Labour candidate for the Warrington South constituency.
