Creative & Digital Skills Centre

Creating a central hub on Runcorn High Street to bring together a number of Halton’s creative companies in one place. This hub will be a place for residents, especially young people to be able to access creative resources. It is set to be affordable, high quality shared training and learning space. To learn creative and digital skills such as coding, radio and drone programming as well as providing training for future employment opportunities.

Development of a victorian shop building with heritage value with an adjoining new build to house Youthy.com- a youth centre for the young people of Runcorn. This will provide a safe space for them to learn and grow their passions. Facilities in this centre are set to include a winter garden, lobby and indoor venue for cultural events as well as an outdoor garden space to grow fresh produce. The indoor space will also allow for classroom style rooms, kitchen facilities for cooking classes using some of the fresh produce grown in the outdoor garden and communal areas for the young people to connect and socialise.

Timeline

2024

Work is underway at the new youth centre and is expected to take 18 months to complete.

2023

Planning permission was granted in August.

2022

In March, the initial RIBA stage 2 report and plan was developed for the building by K2 architects and can be viewed here.

A public consultation drop-in session was held on 12th April at the Runcorn Library, where the public discussed plans with project officers. An online survey was then available for four weeks following this.

Following this public consultation the RIBA stage 3 plans were developed by K2 Architects. They can be viewed here.

Planning permission was applied for in October.

The restoration of a Victorian shop with heritage value in the same row of buildings as Hazlehurst and Youthy.com. The Centre will host Mako Create to deliver digital skills training and A Place For Us theatre company to offer performing arts for the local community.

Timeline

2024

In March this year some of the project’s designs and plans were reviewed, in order to stay within budget while delivering a high-quality training and learning space. Since this review the accessible loft space has been taken out of the original proposal. See the amended application here, this was accepted on the 2nd April. Following this the design team are preparing a revised detailed design.

2023

Planning permission was granted in August.

2022

In March, the initial RIBA stage 2 report and plan was developed for the building by K2 architects and can be viewed here.

A public consultation drop in session was held on 12th April at the Runcorn Library, where the public discussed plans with project officers. An online survey was then available for four weeks following this.

Following this public consultation the RIBA stage 3 plans were developed by K2 Architects. They can be viewed here.

Planning permission was applied for in October.

The restoration of this Georgian building is the first of the creative and Digital Skills Hub. Seeing the expansion of Hazlehurst Studios into the space has provided high quality studio space for artists and creatives, incorporating accessible ground floor workspaces for artists to work in and hold community workshops and exhibitions in. Providing an additional 10 artist studios to the initial set up of Hazlehurst Studios.

Timeline

2023

The restoration was completed and Hazlehurst Studios opened their doors on the expansion to the public.

2022

Warden was appointed to carry out the building restoration and works began in February.

Find out more information in the press release.

2021

Planning permission was granted in January 2021.

Cassidy + Ashton Building Surveyors were appointed to prepare and oversee the restoration of the building.

2020

Planning applications were submitted.