A healthcare property investment company has been given planning permission for a ‘major enhancement’ of its Altrincham town centre headquarters.

FTSE250 firm Assura plc invests and manages healthcare buildings across the UK and relocated to The Southmark Building on Barrington Road. 

The redevelopment includes replacement windows, a new roof, a new green wall feature, a rooftop extension at the fourth-floor level, landscaping and associated works.

Permission for the development was granted on Wednesday under delegated powers by Trafford’s planning team.

Assura says the ‘deep retro-fit’ aims to be the first office refurbishment in the North West the energy efficiency rating of Nabers UK.

Chief executive Jonathan Murphy said: “Now we have planning permission we can make the next steps to improve our office and provide a sustainable, modern and innovative working environment for all of our staff.

“We want to lead by example for a sustainable world and the changes we are making to the building, using our Net Zero Carbon Design Guide will help us achieve that. We want our office to showcase modern, low carbon construction methods to set a standard for all our future healthcare projects.”

New workspaces will be open and flexible, allowing for different types of working while still promoting an inclusive, healthy and positive work environment, says Assura.

The renovations will also provide an opportunity to add new amenity spaces and a roof terrace available for all staff to use.

The proposal also includes extensive re-working of the landscaping along Barrington Road and around the site including a public pocket park and planting, improving biodiversity and providing more outdoor space for staff and the local community.

The scheme was designed by architects, Hawkins Brown, in conjunction with Civic Engineers (Structural) and Planit (Landscaping) and aims to be on site in early summer. 

The proposal also includes extensive re-working of the landscaping along Barrington Road and around the site including a public pocket park and planting, improving biodiversity and providing more outdoor space for staff and the local community.