Royal London’s Wilmslow expansion secured

Insurance giant Royal London has been granted permission by Cheshire East Council to build a 180,000 sq ft office in the green belt.

The company, which employs 950 staff in the town, said its current buildings were outdated and it wanted to expand into new premises on land to the east of Alderley Road.

The council accepted the argument put by HOW Planning, advisor to Royal London, that there were special circumstances that allowed for development in green belt. The company plans to eventually employ 1,500 staff in the new premises.

Property Alliance Group is the development partner on the project. AHR Architects is the designer. Gary Halman, managing partner of HOW Planning, advised Royal London and Property Alliance Group on the application. He commented: “This is a brilliant result and a clear recognition that Cheshire East values highly Royal London’s major economic contribution to the borough – it presently accounts for one in 10 jobs in Wilmslow.

“The scheme is a very high quality one, sensitive to its green belt setting, and would provide a superb addition to the existing campus.”