UPDATE: |Huge Grade II-listed building set to be turned into glam wedding venue in Cheshire News

The building in Knutsford was formerly an auctioneers

A grade-II listed building in Cheshire is set to be turned into a wedding and conferencing venue.

Marshall House, a former auctioneers in Knutsford town centre, was built in 1893 to house the Church of England Egerton Boys and Girls School, was home to Wright Marshall auctioneers between 1977 and 2019.

Now, plans to convert the grade-II listed building into a venue for weddings, celebratory events, conferencing, offices, bar and restaurant have been recommended for approval, reported Cheshire Live.

An application from One London Road Ltd to change the use of the landmark building on Church Hill will be considered by Cheshire East’s northern planning committee later this month. The proposal also includes extensions to the rear and side of the building.

A report from the council’s planning officer states: “The building is a former school building and retains much of the original floor plan on both floors with classroom walls and staircases. There are a number of original features within the building internally as well as externally.

“The proposal would result in a loss of some features and historic fabric including alterations to the rear and side elevations to accommodate the new extensions. The proposed side extension would be the most noticeable alteration to the building, with a single storey extension also to the rear.”

But it adds: “Overall, the proposed development is considered to result in less than substantial harm to the architectural significance of the listed building, and the setting of adjacent listed buildings and the conservation area.”

The report says the proposal would bring back an important listed building within the town centre conservation area back into active use, ‘thereby securing its future for years to come’.

It continues: “There will be economic benefits such as supply chain impacts, 20 to 30 construction jobs with associated apprenticeship roles, and 30 to 40 staff employed within the venue when operational.

“Both contractors and operation staff will in turn contribute to the local expenditure within shops, restaurants, bars and other services, adding additional spending power to the local economy within Knutsford town centre. Similarly, visitors to the venue will visit local shops bars, restaurants and hotels.”

Regarding parking, 19 spaces are set to be retained on the site which included four disabled spaces and two EV spaces. Servicing will be from the rear of the building with access off Princess Street.

The application, which has been recommended for approval with several conditions, will be considered by the northern planning committee at its meeting at Macclesfield Town on Wednesday, April 23, at 10am. An accompanying application for listed building consent will also be considered at the meeting.