Former NatWest Bank Conversion
Conversion to Commercial Retail & Leisure use, Biddulph
Sector: Commercial - Retail at Ground floor
Sector: Commercial - Dance Class E at First floor
Background
Our Client had purchased the former NatWest bank on the corner of Biddulph High Street and King Street. The building had been vacant for some time and had undergone a refurbishment start for a different use, which had been abandoned.
The proposed building was completely renovated and separated into a ground floor commercial retail unit, with the first floor being initially converted into a modern high spec two-bedroom apartment and marketed for residential use. The upper floor was adjusted on completion for commercial use when a tenant was found, during the marketing excercise, who wanted to open a dance studio.
Ethos
We separated the staircase linking the back of house bank area to former upper floor offices by removing the first part of the staircase to a quarter landing and moving this to an external landing. This allowed us to insert a level secondary access to the side providing access to back of house retail space. A party wall division between this and the upper floor was formed to the side of the retained part of the staircase. We then put in a new door to the half landing and external steps to bring the access up 6 steps to the landing to enter the upper floor unit.
The side access was also divided and fenced externally to provide access to the retail unit, dance studio for staff and deliveries.
Facilities
The ground floor contains: main retail floor space, serving counter, storage rooms, office space, a staffroom and accessible staff toilet.
The first floor has a large activity space fitted with a dance floor, large kitchen, smaller group studio, an office, toilets, and eaves storage areas.
Work
The basement was partially infilled to remove an issue with damp, and the floor above this replaced, the roof was refurbished, Windows to both side elevations were replaced to improve the thermal performance; and the upper floor walls were thermally insulated to improve energy performance.
The kitchenette and bathrooms/toilets were replaced on both floors. All internal finishes and decorations were replaced. Heating was largely renewed.
Image of Completed Works
Status: Completed August 2021
Commenced: March 2020
Value: £225k
Type: Retail and community Renovation
Contract: Packaged Sub contractors with Client and BPA Project Managing
Project Ref: 20-023
Client: Private
Architect: bpArchitecture
