PLANS for a retirement complex at Alderley Park have been recommended for approval – although planning officers say the proposal is ‘finely balanced’ with many factors counting against it.
The proposal is for a single integrated retirement community with 159 extra care units, associated healthcare, wellbeing, support and amenity facilities on land at Heatherley Woods, Nether Alderley.
The application, from Symphony Park Holdings Ltd and Alderley Park Ltd, also includes pedestrian and vehicular access with associated parking and landscaping.
In a report due to go to tomorrow’s (Wednesday) meeting of Cheshire East’s strategic planning board, the council’s planning officer states: “The principle of development has been established by the [previous] outline approval, and it is considered that the proposals are appropriate development in the Green Belt.”
But he lists a number of factors which count against the scheme. These are the building is large and will have some visual impact, in particular on the residents of the newly constructed Bellway properties; loss of trees; and the affordable housing provision does not meet the policy requirements.
But, the officer says, there are also a number of benefits, in that it is a high quality development that will contribute positively to Alderley Park; it will directly contribute to key worker housing and will contribute towards new build life science accommodation.
He concludes: “The contribution to the wider objectives associated, the delivery of life science employment uses and the wider economic benefits tip the balance in favour of supporting this application.”
Cheshire East’s housing officer has objected to the scheme due to lack of affordable housing provision.
Over Alderley Parish Council has objected on the grounds ‘the significant negative consequences on the surrounding rural landscape, wildlife and residential amenity cannot be justified’.
It adds: “Overall, the proposed development is considered to be out of character and an unwelcome intrusion into a highly valued rural area.”
Nether Alderley Parish Council says it cannot support the application for a number of reasons. These include the mass, scale and size of the development being ‘totally unacceptable’ and having significant impact on neighbouring residents on Morris Drive and Hatherley Woods; as well as the proposed 52 parking spaces being inadequate.
The application is accompanied by a proposal for life science developments, which is also on the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting but will be treated as a separate application.
But Nether Alderley Parish Council says: “Nether Alderley should not be forced to accept extra development purely to fund the offices and laboratories in the science park. The science park should be separate and self-funding.”
Cheshire East's planning officer has recommended the retirement application be approved subject to conditions and a section 106 agreement to ensure that profits are to be re invested in life science development and 15 per cent affordable housing is to be provided on site under the established Life Science Employee Housing Scheme.
The application will be considered tomorrow (Wednesday, March 1) at the strategic planning board meeting which takes place at 10am at Macclesfield Town Hall.
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