Plans submitted to convert grade II-listed old church near Macclesfield into 18 apartments

By Belinda Ryan - Local Democracy Reporter

7th Nov 2024 | Local News

Plans to convert St John the Baptist Church, Bollington, into 18 apartments have been recommended for refusal (Google).
Plans to convert St John the Baptist Church, Bollington, into 18 apartments have been recommended for refusal (Google).

Plans to convert a grade II-listed former church near Macclesfield into 18 apartments, have been recommended for refusal.

St John the Baptist Church, Bollington, closed about 20 years ago and permission was granted to convert the property into 13 luxury apartments with associated parking and landscaping in 2010.

That permission was later renewed and the applicant says this consent remains extant, because some work had begun.

Cheshire East disputes this, arguing that permission has now lapsed.

Two years ago, an application was submitted to convert the building into 18 apartments.

That application is due to be decided at next Wednesday's meeting of the northern planning committee.

A report to the committee from Cheshire East's planning officer states: "The proposals would provide small one and two-bedroom homes in line with one of the greatest needs highlighted in the Bollington Neighbourhood Plan, which at first glance is a positive feature of the development."

It also adds the conversion of the listed building into homes 'is considered to hold public benefit as an optimum future use for the building'.

But the reports say there a number of reasons why the scheme should be refused.

It states: "The development does not propose a housing mix of types, sizes or tenures that meets the locally defined needs including that for affordable housing, downsizing and homes for elderly/older persons."

It also says some rooms would have insufficient natural daylight.

It continues: "The development results in the unjustified and unmitigated loss of protected open space, a cemetery and graveyard area associated with a historic church."

And it states the proposal fails to provide adequate financial contributions towards planning obligations for open space, outdoor sport and recreation, allotments, green infrastructure and affordable housing.

One person has written to the council supporting the proposal and five have written objecting to the scheme.

A separate application for listed building consent for the same development is also on next week's agenda and that has been recommended for approval.

The meeting of the northern planning committee takes place at 10am on Wednesday 13 November at Macclesfield Town Hall.

     

New macclesfield Jobs Section Launched!!
Vacancies updated hourly!!
Click here: macclesfield jobs

Share:

Related Articles

Macclesfield Town Hall, Market Place (Macclesfield Nub News).
Local News

What's on in Macclesfield this weekend: Bethlehem Casuals, Christmas cocktail event and more

Residents living in substandard housing are urged to contact their landlord in writing (LDRS).
Local News

Macclesfield residents living in substandard housing urged to contact landlord in writing

Sign-Up for our FREE Newsletter

We want to provide macclesfield with more and more clickbait-free local news.
To do that, we need a loyal newsletter following.
Help us survive and sign up to our FREE weekly newsletter.

Already subscribed? Thank you. Just press X or click here.
We won't pass your details on to anyone else.
By clicking the Subscribe button you agree to our Privacy Policy.