Wilmslow Town Council plans £285k revamp of former South Drive toilets
Wilmslow Town Council has applied for planning permission to turn the former South Drive toilet block into modern public toilets and a flexible community space. Wilmslow Town Counc
By Cheshire Today
Wilmslow Town Council has applied for planning permission to turn the former South Drive toilet block into modern public toilets and a flexible community space.
Wilmslow Town Council has applied for planning permission to bring the former South Drive toilet block back into public use.
The building, which sits in a prominent town-centre location, has been empty for more than a decade after the facilities were closed under Cheshire East Council ownership.
The council says the block has since deteriorated and no longer provides any benefit to the town. It now wants to transform the site into a modern facility with public toilets, community space and an improved appearance on one of Wilmslow’s key town-centre routes.
The project would see the council take control of the building and its immediate surroundings through a long-term lease.
Plans for the new South Drive centre include modern externally accessible public toilets and flexible indoor space that could be used for meetings, arts, exhibitions and community activities.
Visuals submitted as part of the planning application show a modernised building with improved external elevations, glass-fronted elements and a cleaner setting around the site.
A floor plan also shows three accessible toilet facilities alongside the community space.
Wilmslow Town Council says the project is intended to improve facilities for residents, visitors and people attending events in the town centre.
The council has allocated £285,000 in its 2026–27 budget for the work. It aims to appoint contractors in the autumn, with a view to opening the new facility in spring or summer 2027.
The former toilet block has long been viewed by some residents as an eyesore, particularly because of its visible position near the route to the library and shops.
Wilmslow Town Mayor, Councillor Sally Harrison, said the building had “for too long sat empty” and described it as a blot on the landscape of the town centre.
She said Wilmslow was a thriving town with a growing number of successful events, which meant more people needed access to modern public facilities.
Councillor Harrison said the transfer of the building from Cheshire East Council would allow the town council to invest in a community space that improves the visitor experience while also serving local residents.
She said the renewed venue could support meetings, arts and exhibitions, and activities such as yoga classes.
The mayor added that improving the appearance of South Drive would also benefit the wider town centre, particularly around the route to the library and shops.
The planning application can be viewed through Cheshire East Council’s planning portal.