News: Powell Williams progressing on the conversion of two mixed-use developments for Courts Developments following acquisition advice

Our Chester team is undertaking the project delivery (project management, contract administration, cost consultancy and Principal Designer) on the conversion and refurbishment works on two sites in Chester and Wrexham following providing TDD advice on the acquisition.

Courts Developments has experience across all residential and commercial sectors, typically focusing on investments where there is an opportunity to add value, as is the case with 47 Northgate, Chester and 1-2 High Street, Wrexham.

Creating useable spaces

Both properties have a similar brief – to bring redundant space back into use – by creating self-contained residential flats above ground floor commercial space.

The site in Wrexham, formerly a Nationwide Building Society, will have six separately accessed apartments on the first, second, and third floors, with a lock-up-shop unit at ground level.

Whilst the site in Chester, directly faces the open Town Hall Square, and looks directly at the new £37m ‘Storyhouse’ Cultural Centre and Library; an unrivalled central location in the heart of the city. The conversion will provide four residential apartments, retaining some of the building’s original features, along with a newly reconfigured and refurbished commercial opportunity on the ground floor.

Overcoming challenges

With the global shortage of building materials, we have had to negotiate with the contractor on behalf of the client with regards to costs and lead times. We have also dealt with on site variations following strip out and the buildings being fully opened up.

Despite these hurdles, both sites are due to be completed by the end of the year.