AN historic 100-year-old Runcorn landmark has been transformed.

A £2.9 million project has converted the former Cottage Hospital into contemporary homes alongside newly built properties.

The housing development on The Holloway includes six two bedroom houses and 22 one and two-bedroom apartments.

Work started in December 2016.

Rather than demolishing the historical Runcorn Cottage Hospital, Halton Housing decided to restore as much of the original building as possible and transform the building into affordable, high quality homes.

As the development has been handed over in phases, many of the homes are already occupied.

Kate Sweeney, development manager for this scheme at Halton Housing said: “I’m so pleased to have been part of the restorative new-build Victoria House development which has created high quality, affordable homes for Halton residents.

"We listened to local residents when approaching this new build development and instead of tearing the former Cottage Hospital building down to build on this site, we invested in retaining as much of this building and its original features as possible to allow the community to retain this historical landmark and bring it back in to use.”

John McGee, the organisation's clerk of works on this project, said:“The works on this project included the demolition of three old buildings to the rear of the original site and the construction of six new houses and two apartments on the rear half of the development, which were handed over in early January this year."

Work on the former hospital, known as Victoria House, included the demolition of some internal walls and structures plus the lowering of floors.

Nine new apartments have been created at the back of the building and two duplex apartments at the side.

Mr McGee added: “The retention of the appearance of the front of the former hospital building was integral and important as it has been a key landmark in the area for over 100 years.”

Halton Housing worked in partnership with John McCall Architects, Bardsley Construction, Aecom and the Alan Johnson Partnership.