What was AHR’s role in the Academy Way project?

We led the design of the scheme, shaping the architecture, layout and overall placemaking approach. Working closely with HABIKO and the wider consultant team, we developed a proposal that balances design quality, deliverability and long-term value for the town centre.

How did AHR approach the design?

Our approach focused on creating homes that feel comfortable, accessible and well connected to their surroundings. We prioritised clear structure, strong street presence and a central courtyard that offers a quieter, greener setting, helping to support both everyday living and a sense of community.

How does the scheme reflect AHR’s residential expertise?

The design draws on our experience across high density residential and build to rent developments. This is reflected in the efficient layouts, mix of apartment types and focus on accessibility, alongside careful attention to how shared spaces and public realm support modern urban living.

How has AHR responded to the site and its context?

We have taken cues from the surrounding townscape and nearby conservation areas, reinterpreting local materials and proportions in a contemporary way. The layout also responds to site constraints, including level changes and historic ground conditions, to create a solution that feels both practical and well integrated.

How does the project support AHR’s approach to placemaking and sustainability?

The scheme brings together placemaking and sustainability through a people-first design. By reactivating a brownfield site, introducing green space and supporting walkable, town centre living, the development helps create a more connected, lower-impact neighbourhood that can support communities over the long term.

AHR Residential Academy Way Architecture Warrington 01

Project News

Planning approval secured for Academy Way, Warrington

Min Read

by AHR

This significant project milestone brings us closer to providing a vibrant new residential neighbourhood in Warrington town centre.

We’re proud to be leading the design for Academy Way, a town centre regeneration project delivered by Habiko, a joint venture between Pension Insurance Corporation, Muse and Homes England. Together, we’re transforming a brownfield site into a low-carbon, landscape-led neighbourhood that will bring new homes, activity and long-term value into the heart of Warrington.

Supporting vibrant placemaking and high quality town centre living

Our approved proposals will deliver a carefully considered residential development that includes:

240 affordable homes, supporting more inclusive town centre living
A mix of one and two bedroom apartments designed around modern lifestyles
A generous shared courtyard, offering a calm and green space at the heart of the development
Active ground floor frontages that help create a more welcoming street environment
Clear and intuitive routes through the site, improving accessibility and ease of movement

The scheme has been shaped to balance density with liveability, creating homes that feel comfortable, accessible and well connected to the wider town centre.

AHR Residential Academy Way Architecture Warrington 4ue

Bringing people together through community and place

A landscape-led neighbourhood shaped by its story

At the centre of the design is a shared courtyard garden, which draws inspiration from the site’s industrial past, where historic gasholders once stood. This influence is reflected through soft circular geometries that help create a distinctive identity while supporting a range of everyday activities.

It’s also designed to encourage informal interaction as well as moments of pause, with a mix of seating, planting and flexible open space. Private terraces and softened edges help create a gentle transition between homes and shared areas, supporting both community and privacy.

Bringing more life, choice and connectivity into the town centre

The site has long felt closed off, with inactive frontages and surface parking limiting its contribution to the surrounding area. The approved proposals open it up, introducing homes and entrances that bring a more natural level of activity and help the area feel safer and more welcoming.

By reinforcing surrounding streets and improving connections to Time Square and the wider town centre, the scheme supports a more walkable, accessible and joined-up urban environment. The introduction of new homes in this location also helps strengthen the town centre as a place to live day to day, not just visit."

Dominic Manfredi

Project Director, Architecture

Designed for sustainable urban living

Sustainability has been considered from the outset, with a focus on practical, long-term impact. By reusing a brownfield site in a highly accessible location, the development supports reduced car dependency and encourages walking, cycling and public transport use.

The scheme includes photovoltaic panels at roof level and integrates green infrastructure throughout the landscape, helping to support biodiversity and environmental performance while enhancing the day-to-day experience of living there.

We’re driven to shape places that support people and communities over the long term. Academy Way reflects that ambition, combining residential design, placemaking and regeneration to create a neighbourhood that will grow with Warrington.

Discover more about Academy Way

Frequently asked questions

: We led the design of the scheme, shaping the architecture, layout and overall placemaking approach. Working closely with HABIKO and the wider consultant team, we developed a proposal that balances design quality, deliverability and long-term value for the town centre.
: Our approach focused on creating homes that feel comfortable, accessible and well connected to their surroundings. We prioritised clear structure, strong street presence and a central courtyard that offers a quieter, greener setting, helping to support both everyday living and a sense of community.
: The design draws on our experience across high density residential and build to rent developments. This is reflected in the efficient layouts, mix of apartment types and focus on accessibility, alongside careful attention to how shared spaces and public realm support modern urban living.
: We have taken cues from the surrounding townscape and nearby conservation areas, reinterpreting local materials and proportions in a contemporary way. The layout also responds to site constraints, including level changes and historic ground conditions, to create a solution that feels both practical and well integrated.
: The scheme brings together placemaking and sustainability through a people-first design. By reactivating a brownfield site, introducing green space and supporting walkable, town centre living, the development helps create a more connected, lower-impact neighbourhood that can support communities over the long term.