Cheshire East planners are recommending approval for a Macclesfield office block to be converted into flats despite there being no garden area and no parking spaces for future occupants.

Applicants Edwards and Taylor want to convert Marburae House on Athey Street into six apartments.

The application has been 'called-in' by ward councillor Liz Braithwaite (Lab) so it will be heard by the northern planning committee on Wednesday (June 7)

In her call-in notice Cllr Braithwaite said: "One ground floor bedroom shares a wall with an electricity substation… There is no outside amenity space.

With regard to the lack of parking spaces, Cllr Braithwaite said: "It cannot be assumed that potential residents will be non-car owners.

"Residential parking is already an issue, and parking on Athey Street is restricted by single yellow lines and a no parking area near the school gates. Further residential development without parking provision will put additional strain on the area."

She also pointed to concerns raised by housing standards about fire safety, but the planning officer's report states housing standards now have no objections, subject to the installation of an sprinkler system.

Macclesfield Town Council has objected to the proposal arguing it is over-development and because it has no parking.

The building is described by the council's planning officer as a two-storey flat-roofed 'narrow commercial unit'.

There is an events and exhibition company to one side of the site and a carpets and beds factory outlet to the other.

To the rear, which also adjoins the unit, there is a company that sells pallet trucks and electronic weighing equipment and on the opposite side of Athey Street is a school.

The planning officer states in the report to next week's committee meeting: "The size of the apartments exceed minimum nationally described space standards and it is considered that sufficient light and outlook would be afforded to the future occupiers.

"Whilst there would be no private amenity space, the site is located within close proximity to numerous public outdoor spaces.

"Although no off-street parking is proposed, this is also the situation with the existing use. In addition, the site is located not far from the Macclesfield town centre so is within walking and cycling distance to all public amenities and all units would be equipped with internal cycle storage."

The northern planning meeting takes place at Macclesfield Town Hall at 10am on Wednesday, June 7.

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