Flats could make way for airport car park
THEY’D BE SPACES FOR 772 VEHICLES
AN APARTMENT block could be flattened as part of plans for another huge airport car park.
Plans have been put before Manchester council for a 772 space off-site car park right on Wythenshawe’s border with Heald Green in Stockport, two and a half miles from the airport.
And as part of the proposals, an existing block on the land, Heald Green House which contains 13 apartments, will be demolished to make way for a ‘park and ride’ scheme.
Permission was granted by Manchester town hall for a 500-space car park in 2007, planning documents show.
People living nearby have been informed that amended plans including more than 200 extra spaces have been lodged and are open for consultation.
There is an existing airport car park, Peter Ashley Car Parks, next door – but it is independent of the proposed new facility which would border the Flying Horse pub to the south.
The M.E.N. understands around four or five of the residents of the block own their properties and have agreed prices for their sale with the land owner and will have around six months to move on should permission be granted.
One, who has lived in his flat for eight years, told the M.E.N. he thought it was a ‘shame’ an existing block could be flattened for a car park, but said he had agreed to sell his apartment over fears of compulsory purchase.
He said: “It’s been hanging over us for six years or more now. It’s just one of those things, we decided to just move on and get on with it.
“But it is a shame, especially as we’ve got a housing crisis at the moment.
“Quite a few of the residents in here are older people and there no other suitable houses or flats for them in this area. We’re thinking of moving to Tenerife if it does go through because there’s nothing for us here.”
Parking in the vicinity of the airport has become a huge issue in recent months with residents in Wythenshawe complaining that people, are leaving their cars on residential streets and then jetting off. Some ‘meet and greet’ car park firms have also been accused of leaving vehicles on streets and pub car parks.
The planned new car park, which would be independently run, would be a ‘park and ride’ with holidaymakers dropping their cars before being ferried to the airport in minibuses.
The public consultation closes on October 16, after which the plans are expected to go to the council’s planning committee.