Cheshire East approves two Nantwich residential schemes earmarked for commercial use
Cheshire East has given the go-ahead for two residential schemes in Nantwich, on land earmarked for commercial use.
But, one councillor said he hoped this was not seen as an invitation for developers to submit housing applications on land allocated for employment.
On Wednesday, (May 28), the council's strategic planning board approved an application from Muller Property Group and McCarthy and Stone for a 49-apartment retirement living scheme at Maylands Park at Stapeley.
It also approved a separate application, from Muller Property Group and Anwyl Homes, for 40 homes, including 12 affordable.
Both sites are part of the larger Maylands Park development off Peter De Stapleigh Way, which was granted permission on appeal in 2020 for mixed-use development and they already had approval for an employment and local centre.
Speaking during the debate on the retirement complex, Knutsford councillor Stewart Gardiner (Conservative), who seconded the proposal to approve, said: "There are certain positives to this scheme.
"There is a lack of provision specifically for older people within the borough, and the fact that they have included two-bedroom units in this proposal is actually good."
But he said if the site had been allocated by the council for commercial development, rather than being given permission by an inspector at appeal, 'I would not have been happy with this proposition'.
He added: "I hope this is not a signal to developers elsewhere to think that they can come and present us with applications for land that we've allocated for commercial development and expect to be given permission to put houses on it."
Later, during the discussion on the 40-home application, Cllr Gardiner again expressed disappointment at the loss of the commercial land to housing but said: "I anticipate the people who live in the houses that have been constructed already on a large part of the site will probably be far happier with this being residential use rather than being commercial use."
The application for the retirement apartments was moved for approval by Middlewich councillor Garnet Marshall (Independent), who said he lived opposite a similar complex.
"In the case of Middlewich, it's been an absolute success because it's not far away from the town centre, and they [residents] don't travel far by nature, but the money that they do use, they use in the local area," he said.
Mobberley councillor Hannah Moss (Conservative), expressed concern the complex had a shortfall of five parking spaces, and pointed out people over 60 years old still have cars.
Cheshire East does not have a five-year supply of housing land and planners said these two applications, which were considered separately, would count towards that.
Both schemes were approved and, in each case, nine councillors voted in favour and one abstained.
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