Plans for a care home for people with complex needs on the site of the former Mac Multi Activity Centre have been turned down with councillors saying, 'it's the right thing, in the wrong place'.

Exemplar Health Care wants to bulldoze the existing buildings on the site off Goodall Street in Macclesfield to make way for a three-storey, 35-bedroom care home with access, 24 parking spaces and landscaping.

The northern planning committee was told yesterday (Wednesday) by the applicant's agent, Chris Jones, the home would cater for adults of all ages living with complex mental health needs, dementia, neuro-disabilities including brain injuries, Huntingtons disease, severe autism, Parkinsons disease and physical disabilities including cerebral palsy, spinal injuries and musculoskeletal disorders.

Mr Jones said: "This scheme will make an effective use of brownfield site on land that's laid vacant for a considerable amount of time and its transformation to a care home offers numerous benefits for the borough."

The site of the scuppered plans. (Image - Google)

But ward councillor Mick Warren (Ind), speaking as a visiting member, said: "This proposal will constitute over-development and over-intensification of a heavily constrained site."

Resident James Harness told the committee the building proposed was at least double that of the existing one on site.

"The loss of privacy and natural light will massively impact all surrounding residents' living conditions and quality of life," he said.

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He added: "An overbearing building with approximately 36 windows on each side will remove all privacy which has been established for over 90 years."

Macclesfield Central councillor Liz Braithwaite (Lab) said: "While there's a need for this kind of facility, unfortunately, I feel that this is an inappropriate location.

"There's a huge impact on residential amenity for the neighbouring streets."

West and Ivy's Cllr Nick Mannion (Macclesfield, Lab) proposed refusal saying: "It's the right thing, in the wrong place. The site is too small."

He said there is an unmet need for this type of accommodation, but this is 'squeezing a quart into a pint pot'.

Haslington councillor Steve Edgar (Con) seconded refusal and said: "I think it's a damn shame.

"A much-needed facility on a brownfield site in an inappropriate location. It's very sad."

The application was unanimously refused on the grounds of overdevelopment and because it would result in an overbearing impact and loss of privacy for neighbours.

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Mac Multi Activity Centre shut in May 2018.