Middlewich ‘eyesore’ site to be redeveloped

Cheshire East’s planning officers have recommended proposals by Henderson Homes and McCarthy & Stone for 85 houses and apartments on an “eyesore” site in Middlewich for approval.

The derelict site off Wheelock Street, behind the town’s Tesco superstore, is split into two parts: Henderson Homes will deliver the housing, while McCarthy & Stone is proposing a three-storey block of apartments for the over 55s.

Designed by architect Calderpeel, Henderson Homes’ plans include a mix of 14 two-bed homes and 17 three-bed homes, along with four one and two-bed apartments. This portion of the site will be accessed via St Ann’s Street.

McCarthy & Stone is putting forward a mix of one and two-bed apartments, while the ground floor of the block will also include three retail units fronting Wheelock Street. There will also be 40 car parking spaces, and a 6,500 sq ft communal garden for residents.

The scheme first went to Cheshire East’s Southern Planning Committee earlier this month, but a decision was deferred with members looking for more information on servicing the retail units, and on-site affordable provision.

It will return to committee next week with a recommendation to approve, with planning officers arguing the scheme would provide “economic benefits through the provision of employment during the construction phase, three new retail units to the Wheelock Street frontage at the ground floor of the McCarthy & Stone building, new residential units and benefits for local businesses in Middlewich by virtue of the economic activity associated with the new residents of the flats and houses”.

Four of the homes within Henderson’s part of the site will be offered as affordable, while planning officers added the proposals would “remove an eyesore site that is subject to anti-social behaviour and is detrimental to the amenity of the area”.

Cheshire East’s Southern Planning Committee will make a decision on the proposals on 3 April.