Cheshire East councillors are furious after learning town centre flats allocated for social renting have been left vacant 'for years'.

Six flats on the upper floors of 4-8 Chestergate in Macclesfield are leased to Contour Housing – a registered social housing provider now part of Onward Homes – under a 12-year lease arrangement.

But building owner Churchside Properties applied to Cheshire East to have the affordable housing condition removed, saying the social housing provider indicated it won't be extending the lease when it expires in 2028.

Tim Lomas, representing Churchside, told the northern planning committee: "So far as I know, there's one tenant in there at the moment.

"There may have been two throughout last year, but certainly the last, I think, three years its had about four of them empty for one reason or another."

When asked about the condition of the flats, Mr Lomas said they were in 'excellent condition'.

He said Churchside was applying to have the affordable condition removed because 'our worry is that when Onward vacate in 2028, we will be left with six nice apartments, which we will not be able to do anything with as the affordable housing condition will basically scupper any plans we may have'.

Strategic housing objected to the removal of the condition.

Councillors were angry the flats were empty.

Macclesfield councillor Mary Brooks (Lab) said: "We've got care leavers that are looking for accommodation that are leaving the care system, and it's just staggering that we are not able to locate these people in these empty properties."

Bollington councillor Ken Edwards (Lab) said: "I can't see releasing the obligation for six apartments to be affordable in the centre of Macclesfield, to be beneficial to anybody that might be likely to want them."

Planning officer Paul Wakefield said the removal of the condition is not preventing them being occupied as affordable dwellings.

He also told councillors there was no valid planning reason to refuse the request to remove the condition.

Cllr Fiona Wilson (Macclesfield, Lab) said: "If we take these six apartments out of the affordable housing bracket, they're going to be more expensive.

"It's all very well saying they might end up being affordable, but I'm afraid I don't believe that's going to happen."

She moved the application to remove the affordable housing condition be refused and this was seconded by Cllr Brooks.

Cllr Sally Holland (Congleton, Con) said not removing the condition may result in them remaining empty.

Cllr Sarah Bennett-Wake (Macclesfield, Lab) was furious the council was working in silos.

"We've got over 11,000 people on the waiting list… and I don't think it's acceptable when you've got one department [housing] of the council saying absolutely not [to removing the condition], and they'll [planning] go 'Oh well, that's the way it is'.

"It's not acceptable," she said.

"It mightn't be planning policy, but we act as one.

"And we act for those people who cannot speak for themselves, who are homeless, who are sofa-surfing and are struggling to find a bed for the night, and it's not good enough."

The move to refuse the application was lost on the casting vote of the chair, Cllr David Edwardes (Macclesfield, Ind)

Cllr Holland then moved the application to remove the social housing condition be approved and it went through, on the casting vote of the chair.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service contacted Onward Homes after the meeting asking why the properties are empty.

A spokesperson for Onward said: "We are committed to providing safe, well-maintained homes that meet the needs of our customers and communities.

"A number of flats at Chestergate were identified as requiring essential works and have been temporarily unavailable to let while these works take place.

"We are working with a specialist contractor to ensure these works are completed as quickly as possible and expect these to be finished by the end of the year.

"In line with our lettings and allocation policy, these flats will be available through Cheshire Homechoice as soon as the work is complete.

"The lease runs until July 2028. We will review the arrangements ahead of time in line with our normal policy and considering the long term suitability of the building.

"We will keep in close contact with customers and partners if anything changes."