A bank's new owner wants Macclesfield residents to help shape its future.

Property developer Joe Bailey has purchased the old Royal Bank of Scotland building on Chestergate.

Being Silktown born-and-bred, Joe wanted to ensure the property wasn't left to ruin or simply be turned into flats.

Instead, he wants to hear what the public would like to see done with the building.

Joe, 31, said: "I've lived in Macc all my life so to own the bank was very appealing to me.

"It opens itself to being so many different things, subject to planning.

"I'd love to turn it into something for the high street.

"Hopefully someone out there has an idea for a business or maybe a restaurant they'd like to open."

Property developer Joe Bailey has lived in Macclesfield his whole life (Credit: Nub News)

RBS Macclesfield, located at 56 Chestergate, shut for good in October 2022.

The bank said this decision was a response to 2019 figures, when just nine personal customers used the branch.

"With the ease of mobile and digital banking fewer people are coming into the bank, this means we've had to make some tough choices about which can stay open," read a document about the closure.

Inside the former RBS (Credit: Nub News)

Joe picked up the keys to the building at the start of March, taking his personal portfolio to over £1 million.

He is hoping to emulate the success of nearby venues, such as Picturedrome and The Button Warehouse.

"The location is fantastic," Joe added.

"If you look at Chestergate you've got Picturedrome, Zumuku – all of these fantastic places popping up.

"Next door to us you've got The Button Warehouse and they're renovating, so it just feels like perfect timing."

The vault is still in place (Credit: Nub News)

Anyone who would like to contact Joe privately can reach him at [email protected]. 

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