WINSFORD NeuroMuscular Centre (NMC) wants to create a gym, a training area and increased treatment facilities.

The centre is seeking planning approval from Cheshire West and Chester Council to extend its premises at Woodford Lane East in Winsford.

The plans include a new extension fronting the main car park which will form a new entrance to the centre and contain a new reception area, café and large annex.

The annex would allow the design studio/social enterprise to expand and be relocated to allow the addition of a new, separate entrance for staff and customers, as well as a training suite and conference room.

The centre also wants to extend at the rear of the site, between the design studio and the physiotherapy area, to form a new accessible gym.

The application also includes increasing the car park, replacing high level windows on the design studio, minor internal changes to the building to allow new toilets and offices to be created, and improving the link with the external space.

“The centre is planning the next stage in its development, and wishes to expand the services it offers to a greater number of users, providing an increased number of treatment areas, a gymnasium for assessment and training, plus improved social areas for all visitors and users of the building,” said architects Schafer Associates, agents for the scheme in a report with the application.

In relation to the planned extension to the front of the building the existing executive’s office would be removed to create a new access route into the physio area, and the existing fundraiser’s office would become the new, much larger physio office.

“The brief also calls for the relocation of the design studio to bring it to the ‘front of house’ to improve visibility and access for staff and clients,” added the report.

“The new studio annex will be positioned where the existing storage shed currently sits, and has been designed to sit neatly next to the existing kitchen and studio.

“Internally the extension will include a small manager’s office, open plan office space, and a cutting room, brew area and access to its own fully-adapted toilet.”

The car parking plans include several deep parking bays to allow the easy drop-off of power chair users, ambulant bays to assist those who need more space when getting out of a vehicle and an increase in bays from 25 to 40.