An office tower on Stamford New Road that has lain vacant for seven years is to be converted into 42 residential apartments.
Work is set to begin in the summer after prior approval was granted on an application to convert the second to sixth floors of Clarendon House from offices.
Each floor will fit approximately eight new apartments – with 10 on the larger second floor – comprising a total of 16 two-bed, 21 one-bed and five studio apartments.
Below: Altrincham Library currently uses part of Clarendon House
We can also reveal that a larger scheme to improve the facade of Clarendon House – one of the least aesthetically pleasing buildings in Altrincham and a key entrance point from the Interchange – is also in the works, with a planning application currently being prepared.
The scheme could also see Clarendon House extended at the rear to allow for bigger apartments. The viability of the scheme is currently being assessed by M&M, which is asset managing it on behalf of owner Lunar Holdings, a joint venture company set up by Apollo Global Management and M&M last year. Lunar also owns the Stamford Quarter.
Although the ground and first floors of Clarendon House will be relatively unaffected by the proposals – aside from the entrance and access areas – three of the five floors (the second, third and fifth) have not been used as offices for at least 11 years.
The large main office on the second floor was used by a charity as a furniture store between 2008 and 2011, with a smaller office on the floor occupied for two years until May 2013.
The fourth floor has been vacant since property business Capita Symonds vacated it in April 2006, while the last tenant on the sixth floor was consultancy Mott MacDonald, who vacated in November 2008. All five office floors are currently vacant.
Below: Clarendon House on Stamford New Road
Parking for residents of the new apartments would be available through the open roof car park above the Stamford Quarter, which connects directly into Clarendon House at third floor level.
Clarendon House also houses the current Altrincham Library, which is set to be relocated to a new 8,000 sq ft site on Greenwood Street near the market in time for a 2017 opening.
