WELL Runcorn: A welcoming, accessible space designed with the community in mind
WELL Runcorn has now opened in Runcorn Old Town, bringing a range of health, wellbeing and education services together in one welcoming town centre location.
Based in the former Runcorn Library on Granville Street, the hub has been designed as a ‘one-stop’ facility for residents, including families, young people and people living with long-term conditions. It offers a place where people can access advice, information and support, as well as connect with services covering health, wellbeing, education, training and skills.
The Programmes Office at Halton Borough Council caught up with Viviane Risk, Strategic Project Manager, who has worked with the team at Cassidy + Ashton to help bring to life a welcoming, safe and open space that residents want to go to, rather than must go to.
Following the success of a similar project in Warrington, the Living Well Hub, the team at WELL Runcorn has taken learning from that model, alongside local stakeholder engagement, to transform the former library into a warm, inviting and adaptable space.
A space that feels different
Unlike traditional clinical environments, WELL Runcorn has been created to feel welcoming and calm. Natural light fills the central lobby through a striking lantern ceiling, complemented by wooden feature elements and a colour palette of teal blues and warm tones.
These choices were made deliberately by the architects to avoid the sterile feel of a hospital, while ensuring the space remains vibrant without being overwhelming.
“We wanted to create a space that feels like part of the community, not a clinical setting,” said Viviane Risk. “The colours, the natural light, and the layout all work together to make people feel comfortable and at ease from the moment they walk in.”
Designed with residents, for residents
The hub’s design was shaped with input from local residents, service users, clinicians and volunteers, including accessibility advocates and experts by experience. Feedback sessions covered everything from furniture choices to door widths, helping to make sure the space works for everyone from the very beginning.
“We spent time listening to what people wanted and needed,” Viviane explained. “From mums at messy play sessions to volunteers with lived experience, their voices influenced everything from the seating variety to the colour contrasts for partially sighted visitors.”
Accessibility features include:
- Wide doors to accommodate motorised wheelchairs
- Fully accessible toilets with ceiling hoists and changing tables
- High-contrast furniture and flooring for visually impaired users
- Varied seating options for different mobility needs
More than just appointments
WELL Runcorn is designed as a community space where people can stay and connect after appointments, drop in for advice and information, or speak with services on the day, from job support to education and wellbeing.
With a refreshment area and flexible seating, visitors can relax after appointments or join activities without having to leave the building. During consultation, some of the future users of the hub shared how important it would be to have space to continue conversations with people they met during sessions, especially parents, without having to move everything into another location.
During stakeholder engagement, one local resident said: “I love the idea of bringing more services into the community away from the clinical settings.”
Viviane added: “WELL Runcorn makes that possible. It’s about creating a space that feels social and supportive.”
Celebrating investment in Runcorn
Halton Borough Council’s portfolio holder for Health & Wellbeing, Cllr Rosie Leck, says:
“WELL Runcorn is a fantastic example of how Towns Fund investment is making a real difference in Runcorn. This funding has helped transform a well-known town centre building into a modern, welcoming and accessible hub that brings vital services closer to the people who need them.
“It is about much more than improving a building. It is about investing in people, supporting better health and wellbeing, creating opportunities for learning and skills, and making sure residents can access joined-up support in the heart of their community.
“This is exactly the kind of long-term, practical investment Reconnecting Runcorn was set up to deliver, and it is brilliant to see WELL Runcorn opening its doors for local people.”
Future-proofed for changing needs
The hub’s flexible design means services can evolve as the community’s needs change. Technical features, including enhanced air-handling systems, allow for future expansion of clinical services, helping to make sure the hub remains a vital resource for years to come.
WELL Runcorn has opened with a phased programme of services and activity, with additional services being introduced over the coming months.
The hub is open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm, and is currently closed at weekends and on bank holidays.
