Inquiry starts on Barracks Mill plans
THE future of a derelict mill site hangs in the balance as a public investigation into development plans begins.
Developers Cedar Invest want to build a new retail park with four large shops on the former Barracks Mill site on Black Lane.
They say it will create more jobs and investment in the area.
But councillors on Cheshire East Council’s planning committee refused permission, saying it would have an adverse affect on the town centre.
Yesterday (Tuesday, July 11) the Government’s planning inspectorate launched a public inquiry into the plans.
The officer will spend the next five days going though the whole application in detail before making a decision on whether the plans should be allowed.
The site has been unused since 2004 when fire ravaged the buildings.
But the £13m scheme to revive the area divides opinion, with objectors arguing it will divert trade from the town centre.
Coun Liz Durham, who proposed the application for refusal, said: “Macclesfield deserves to try and regenerate itself without the hindrance of this development.”
Speaking to the Express ahead of the inquiry, John Whateley, director at Cedar Invest, said: “We have undertaken a full retail impact assessment, which has been reviewed by two independent consultants on behalf of the council, and both confirmed that that scheme would not have a significant adverse impact on Macclesfield town centre.”