Holmes Chapel employment site set for major expansion

Landowner Aus-Bore Estates has won council backing for a major expansion of the Manor Point Business Park in Holmes Chapel, with plans in place to add seven more employment and commercial blocks totalling nearly 90,000 sq ft.

The company has put forward a hybrid application for the six-acre site of Macclesfield Road; this includes full permission for a 24,000 sq ft commercial or employment space, and outline planning permission for a further six blocks varying in size from 25,000 sq ft to 4,300 sq ft.

A range of uses is being put forward for each of these, with trade counter use suggested for the larger blocks, while the others could also provide offices or commercial space. The existing six units at Manor Business Park are due to be retained.

Aus-Bore previously developed an Aldi food store at the site off Manor Road in 2016, alongside Liberty Properties, and the company will act as developer for the first block if the project secures planning consent. Further parts of the site will be brought forward on a phased basis and the entire extension of Manor Park is expected to be completed within five years.

The planning application has been supported by architect C4 Consulting and planner TPS.

Cheshire East planning officers have recommended the scheme for approval when the council’s southern planning committee meets next week. Officers said existing planning policies “all support the need for a flexible supply of employment land to attract new and innovative businesses, to enable existing businesses to grow and to create new and retain existing jobs”. The project has not attracted any objections from any statutory consultees or local residents.

Cheshire East will make a decision on the proposals on 6 February.