Dorma site prepared for housing
Following a public inquiry in April, a planning inspector has granted outline consent for the redevelopment of the former Dorma factory site in Chinley.
The proposals by Innovation Forge and Woodford Land will deliver up to 182 new homes, 18,000 sq ft of light industrial floorspace, a crèche and public open space.
The 18.5-acre site has been disused since Dorma vacated in 2005 and was largely cleared in 2010. This site is one of the largest development opportunities in High Peak but the application was refused by High Peak Council's planning committee contrary to the advice of officers.
Mark Whylie, managing director of Innovation Forge, which is a Copperleaf Group company based at Tytherington Business Park, Macclesfield, said: "This site is clearly surplus to requirements as an employment site and given the acute shortage of market and affordable housing in the High Peak, redevelopment will be a huge boost to the area."
He added: "The site is an 18.5-acre mixed-use development creating fantastic opportunities and whilst carrying out significant development ourselves we will explore delivering the project with other development partners. Our first priority is to remediate this large brownfield site and bring it back into use."
Innovation Forge and Woodford Land were represented at the inquiry by David Manley QC who was instructed by Marc Hourigan of Hourigan Connolly chartered town planners. Expert witnesses were also provided by SCP Transport, Gleeds and Michael Lambert Associates.
