A NEW riverside restaurant and office complex could be built at the confluence of the Rivers Weaver Dane.

Plans for a three-storey building off Dane Street would also include a function room, roof terrace and glass frontage looking out over the Weaver between Hayhurst Quay and Town Bridge.

The building – which would see the demolition of unused warehouses and would be built around and on top of Northwich Fireplaces – would also connect to CRS Consultants in the old Parrs Bank building, offering more office space for the firm which is behind the planning application.

The buildings to be demolished or part-demolished have been vacant for more than 10 years and are considered to be ‘at risk’.

From the river navigation, its large glass windows would ‘blend with’ and ‘reflect’ the river – along with a green living wall.

A planning statement said: “The proposed development would provide a modern, visually lightweight structure, comprising composite cladding and glazing.

“The provision of a ‘living wall’ feature centrally located [would] provide the visual effect of blending planting down from the building into the river below, whilst assisting in providing a more vertical emphasis.”

Ground floor level would include car parking and two entrance lobbies, access to the first-floor restaurant and offices, and a display room showcasing Northwich’s salt production heritage.

The first floor includes 147sq m office space for CRS Consultants, along with a link to their existing office, as well as a 180-cover restaurant of 267sq m, leading to a balcony.

On the top floor, a flexible space of 211sq m is proposed – either for office, function or additional restaurant space. Roof access is also included.

The planning statement added that the development was an opportunity to create a ‘signature building’.

Pre-application advice from planning authority Cheshire West and Chester Council suggests the existing buildings are ‘particularly distinctive to Northwich, and to an historic waterfront context’.

It does, however, recognise that the new design would mirror ‘newer design language’ evident at Barons Quay and Waitrose.