A mezzanine floor could be installed in Hoole Community Centre, creating a new meeting room and office space.

Hoole Community Development Trust has submitted plans for internal alterations to the Grade II listed building. If approved by Cheshire West and Chester Council, the scheme would create new office and meeting facilities within the Victorian community centre.

The application proposes a "sensitive" and "reversible" mezzanine structure to make better use of the lower hall's height, providing additional accommodation while retaining usable space beneath.

The mezzanine would introduce a new floor level within the hall, creating an office, enclosed meeting room, landing walkway and a modular acoustic work pod.

According to the design and access statement, the meeting room would sit alongside a structural glass void to provide sound insulation without obstructing views across the building.

The scheme would include an office, a landing walkway, an enclosed meeting room, and a modular acoustic work pod.

It reads: "A high-end acoustic meeting room sits next to a structural glass void. This room provides sound privacy while keeping sightlines clear.

"An adjacent office and a modularpod provide necessary workspace for the Trust's administrative functions."

The documents acknowledge that introducing a mezzanine presents a heritage challenge because of the risk of blocking light from the building's historic full-height windows.

To address this, the plans include a "highly transparent" glazed floor system across the walkways and landing areas, together with a glass void designed to maintain views of the original windows from both levels.

The statement adds: "The main heritage challenge of introducing a mezzanine floor is the risk of blocking light and cutting off internal views of the tall windows.

"The proposed design addresses this by pulling the floor plate back to form a glass void, and using structural glazed flooring.

"This layout keeps the original full-height window openings visible from both levels, preserving the historic character of the room and lighting."

The application also says the structure has been designed so it could be removed in future without causing significant damage to the listed building.

It reads: "By supporting the floor independently on steel beams and Posi-Joists, structural loads are transferred directly down to the ground level rather than anchoring deeply into the historic listed brickwork.

"Should the mezzanine be removed in the future, the primary Victorian hall can return to its original state with minimal repairs."

Overall, the trust says the proposals would "deliver valuable additional space" while safeguarding the building's architectural heritage.

The application concludes: "By utilising a lightweight, independent structural system with glazed floors and lightwells, the design preserves internal light, views and the historic character of the listed building.

"This approach keeps the project reversible and fully accessible, aligning with preserving local heritage and the relevant adopted planning policies set out above."

You can find the full application here.