Frodsham Foundation has announced the winner of its Make Space Competition, which invited North West architects to submit ideas for the anticipated renovation of the goods shed at Frodsham Railway Station.          

Manchester-based architecture practice Lewis and Hickey won with their modern vision for the derelict structure.

The open call was issued in October after Cheshire West and Chester Council offered social enterprise company Frodsham Foundation a 25-year lease of the goods shed.

The brief was to conceptualise how the building – dubbed ‘a space to meet, create and trade’ – could be transformed into a vibrant community and enterprise space.

Criteria included making it an attractive gateway to Frodsham and a central information point to promote local jobs, events and attractions.

Three concepts were exhibited at Frodsham Library, where members of the public were invited to vote for their favourite.

Profit generated by the venture will be reinvested in mentoring and enterprise expansion initiatives, as well as community facilities and start-up grants.

Links to an online survey were also sent out to local residents and businesses via the Frodsham Foundation e-newsletter, Facebook, Twitter and project website www.cheshirehive.co.uk.

Feedback was overwhelmingly in favour of a contemporary restoration of the building, with 72% of respondents voting for a modern two-storey extension.

Comments made about Lewis and Hickey’s submission included ‘a fantastic gateway for train visitors’ and ‘I feel this adds a new modern look for the building with a nice look out onto the railway, allowing the visibility to the trains and platform – a perfect compliment to where it is and a reminder of the building’s past use as part of the railway’.

The responses to whether the single storey element of the building should be refurbished or knocked down and a new extension built were less definitive but respondents were clear that the music rehearsal and film recording facility should be self-contained, leaving the main body of the building for community and small business use.

Director of Frodsham Foundation Kate Dodgson said: “The quality of submissions and the level of background research and understanding of the aims of the project were exceptional and we would like to thank all entrants for their time and effort.”

Clive Panter, director of architecture at Lewis and Hickey and a resident of Frodsham, added: “The goods shed is a fantastic project and we’re delighted that our ideas have been well received.

“We’re looking forward to developing these concepts for the sustainable re-use of this historic building for commercial and community uses.”

Frodsham Foundation has been awarded a pre-feasibility grant of up to £10,000 by Social Investment Business Limited.

It will be used for RIBA stage one architectural fees, a structural survey, valuation, development of governance and structure and preparation of the next stage of funding applications.

An application will be made to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a Heritage Enterprise Grant on February 5.

To get involved in the project and receive regular updates visit www.cheshirehive.co.uk or email kate.dodgson@frodshamfoundation.net.