Cheshire East Council is considering selling off part of two Macclesfield town centre car parks for housing.

A report to next week's meeting of the economy and growth committee states the long-stay car parks at Churchill Way and Duke Street are under-used.

If the proposal goes ahead Churchill Way could be reduced from the existing 276 spaces to 123 and Duke Street from 275 to 105, meaning a total loss of 323 parking spaces.

The report refers to a recent feasibility study and states: "The study indicated that partial release of both car parks should not result in significant negative impacts."

It says the potential benefits of redevelopment of under-utilised car parks in Macclesfield town centre include:

• New homes supporting housing needs, including potential for specialist housing;
• Diversifying choice of homes available in a highly sustainable location;
• Increased population living in the town centre, spending money locally to support the vitality and viability of town centre businesses including the evening economy;
• Attracting investment in construction;
• Increased council tax receipts;
• Modern homes suitable to attract younger workers needed to support key local employers such as at Astra Zeneca and Alderley Park;
• Potential for well-designed buildings to increase values of residential and commercial property;
• Potential to release funds to invest in other improvements such as greening or improving pedestrian priority.

Duke Street Car Park (Credit: Nub News)

The report acknowledges, 'it is clearly important to ensure adequate parking is retained to support the needs of residents, visitors, and businesses, to avoid undermining town centre vitality and residential amenity'.

But it says the study shows if the capacity of the Churchill Way and Duke Street car parks were reduced to 123 spaces and 105 spaces respectively, displaced vehicles could be accommodated in existing alternative car parks.

The economy and growth committee will be asked on Tuesday to agree the proposal to bring forward land forming part of Churchill Way and Duke Street car parks as housing sites, subject to them being declared operationally surplus.

Councillors will also be asked to delegate authority to the the executive director of place to explore and select the most appropriate form of housing redevelopment to be located on the surplus land forming part of Churchill Way and Duke Street car parks.

The meeting takes place at Macclesfield Town Hall at 2pm on Tuesday, March 11.

Churchill Way Car Park (Credit: Nub News)

 Macclesfield MP Tim Roca has welcomed the proposals.

He said: "I recently wrote to the Chief Executive of Cheshire East Council, urging them to explore opportunities for developing underutilised spaces in Macclesfield town centre as part of a 'brownfield-first' approach.

"I'm pleased that the council has listened and is willing to think creatively about how we can revitalise the town centre by encouraging more people to live in and around it.

 "Bringing more residents into the heart of Macclesfield would mean more people spending their money locally, boosting footfall for businesses and strengthening our local economy.

"With transport links and amenities on the doorstep, town-centre living could be an attractive option that benefits both residents and businesses alike. This also presents a real opportunity for housing developers to shift their focus away from the greenbelt and invest in sustainable regeneration instead."