A historic pub in Altrincham town centre is set to be redeveloped into a house of multiple occupation (HMO) with a restaurant underneath, under new plans submitted to Trafford Council.
The Orange Tree, a long-standing but now vacant public house on Old Market Place, could soon be given a new lease of life under proposals submitted by owner Mr D. Walton.
His plans aim to preserve the building’s historic character while creating 10 en-suite HMO rooms above a ground floor restaurant, with additional customer toilets in the basement.
The proposals include a full refurbishment of the dilapidated Grade A heritage building, a two-storey rear extension, and the installation of a modern dormer at the back to improve second-floor living space.
The Orange Tree, thought to date back to before 1835, occupies a prominent position in Altrincham’s Old Market Place Conservation Area - a zone which has been on the English Heritage 'at risk' register since 2012 due to property vacancies and deteriorating buildings.
A detailed heritage statement submitted with the application describes The Orange Tree as a building with “landmark quality” and strong historical ties to Altrincham’s medieval burgage plot layout.
It also notes that the building had deteriorated significantly in recent years, having had multiple owners and tenants and suffering from widespread dry rot.
The plans promise to respect and restore the building's period features, including re-rendering and repainting the front elevation, replacing damaged windows with heritage-profile aluminium, and removing unsympathetic past additions to the rear.
If approved, the proposed 10-bedroom HMO will include shared kitchen and lounge facilities, and secure cycle storage for both residents and restaurant staff.
The basement of the building - previously used as a beer cellar - will be repurposed to accommodate new customer toilets, making way for a larger open-plan dining area on the ground floor.
The Heritage Statement submitted with the application argues that the works will have a “beneficial impact” on the conservation area, particularly on the currently graffiti-covered and crumbling rear façade. The applicant has already carried out urgent repairs to prevent further decay.
According to the submitted documents, “without the timely intervention of the new owner… many of the period features would have deteriorated further and not have been accurately recorded”.
