Update on future of old NatWest bank in Kirkham

Plans are in the pipeline to bring a disused former bank in Kirkham back into use.

The former NatWest Bank branch on Poulton Street closed in June 2017 and the current owners are looking to maximise the use of the property.

An application has been submitted to Fylde Council seeking permission for the subdivision of the building and external alteration to replace the existing ground floor entrance to Poulton Street with a glazed door arrangement.

The proposals also include the provision of a balustrade to the Birley Street side of the existing entrance.

A heritage statement on behalf of the applicants said: “The design brief from the client for this project is to separate the existing ground floor and first floor offices.

“The use of the building (both floors) will remain as Class Use E but intended to be used independently from each other.

“The Birley Street entrance is intended for the sole use for the first floor offices entrance and the Poulton Street entrance will be for the ground floor space.

“The existing ground floor stone columned Poulton Street entrance will be restored by removing the modern dark timber entrance door and screens to both the Poulton Street and Birley Street sides and a new glazed entrance is proposed recessed into the existing lobby space, on line with what we assume to be the original line of the historic entrance door.

“The side to Birley Street will have a black painted balustrade introduced in between the columns.”

The statement add: “The former bank building is not listed but sits within the Kirkham Conservation Area. The Conservation Area has recently benefited from an Historic England grant fund for the regeneration of the Kirkham Heritage Action Zone and funding for the public realm areas.

“The building is not on the Local Authority’s Local List but it is a building of particular architectural merit and distinction within the context of Kirkham.

“The current owners are local to the area and own a number of properties within the town centre of Kirkham and are committed to investing within the town.

“They have repaired a number of items on the building already, including all the original timber sash windows.”

The applicants propose to split the building into two separate rentable properties; the first floor offices and the ground floor space, originally the banking hall and associated office space.

They also seek approval to restore the grand stone entrance on the corner of Poulton Street and Birley Street by removing the dark modern timber screens and door and introducing a glazed door and screen set back within the lobby inline with what we suspect was the line of the original entrance door.

This will provide a draught lobby for the ground floor space.

The statement concluded: “The proposals will have a positive effect on the currently redundant building and the subdivision of the building will make the building more inviting and economical for a wider tenant audience and obviously aide to extend the life of the building.

“The removal of the dark modern timber infills to the prominent and architecturally interesting entrance will express the original stone detailing more fully and restore the building to the original design intent.”