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 listed building 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. A VR walkthrough of the buildings plan was produced by K2 Architects. For more information on the projects development and the VR walkthrough see the press release. Planning permission was granted in August. 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.Timeline
2024
2023
2022
The restoration of a Georgian property 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. Work is estimated to start onsite in quarter three of 2024. Planning permission was granted in August. 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.Timeline
2024
2023
2022
The restoration of this listed 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. The restoration was completed and Hazlehurst Studios opened their doors on the expansion to the public. Warden was appointed to carry out the building restoration and works began in February. Find out more information in the press release. Planning permission was granted in January 2021. Cassidy + Ashton Building Surveyors were appointed to prepare and oversee the restoration of the building. Planning applications were submitted.Timeline
2023
2022
2021
2020