Cheshire East greenlights Congleton care home
To be developed at the former John Morley Importers site close to the Macclesfield Canal, the proposal from McGoff and McCarthy Stone also includes 53 retirement flats and 14 houses.
The four-acre brownfield site is bound by railway to the north and north-west, the canal to the south with residential properties beyond, and public open space to the east with residential beyond.
Demolition of the existing factory buildings will take place ahead of development. The care home would provide 95 jobs.
Garner Town Planning advises on the scheme, where the twin applicants as listed with Cheshire East are McGoff Group Properties and McCarthy Stone Retirement Lifestyles. C Squared Architects is also working on the project.
The Morley Drive scheme is made up of a 70-bed care home to be operated by McGoff business New Care, 53 McCarthy Stone apartments – 31 one-bedroom and 22 two-bedroom – and the 14 homes, which will all be three-bed townhouses, with two parking spots per home.
At Cheshire East Council’s southern planning committee meeting on Wednesday 2 April, the project was passed unanimously. Several councillors had been on a site visit, with one, Cllr Andrew Kolker, describing the plans as “a vast improvemernt” on the existing site.
Network Rail had registered a holding objection, pointing out that there is a rail maintenance access point for rail plant opposite the residential development site, adding that it would “need to get a view whether this is likely to cause problems as there could be complaints regarding rail maintenance activities”.
Notwithstanding that, and some minor points from Congleton Town Council – a body that spoke at the meeting, noting its approval of how early-stage comments had been taken on board – the plans went down well at committee.
Due to changes in housing need calculations, Cheshire East has slid from a position of being able to demonstrate a five-year supply – something it has striven for constantly over the years – to not being able to do so at present. As set out by officers, the key matter on this application was whether any other material considerations could outweigh the positive land use.
Recommending approval, officers pointed out that there is an identified shortfall of care places in the area, which is also short on retirement living facilities.
The plans can be viewed on Cheshire East’s planning portal with the reference 24/2497C.
A welcome return for the green light.
By PLF_Cloud_Cuckoo_Land
A fantastic development -looks great and a welcome addition to the town!
By Danger Mouse
it is to be hoped it does not take them as long to build as the one in Middlewich if it does it should be ready for some of todays teenagers
By Anonymous
I spoke for Congleton Town Council. While it is true that we welcome this development, we believe that it s dangerous for pedestrians and vehicles to share access to the care home across the narrow canal bridge and the poorly maintained Morley Drive. We hope that a safer solution will be found to this problem.
By Amanda Martin
Not sure I’d want to retire to a place right next to the train line (top left of image). No chance really of having quality external amenity due to the noise.
By Anonymous
Great use of the site!
By Anonymous