Go-ahead for former mill to become flats
ADEVELOPER has been given the goahead to turn a former mill into 14 new homes.
Oliver James Construction has had its planning application for Newbridge House, on Henderson Street, Macclesfield centre, approved by Cheshire East Council.
The four-storey building, on the junction with Newton Street, had previously been offices and most lately home to charity Age UK.
But it is said to have now stood empty for more than two years.
So although the conversion to flats means the loss of employment space that could provide 88 jobs this was not seen as making the development detrimental. The proposals had attracted one complaint from a nearby resident on Marsden Terrace saying the development would cause their property to be overlooked.
But in a report council planner Robert Law said the design of the flats would stop this being a problem.
He said: “The proposed internal layout shows that the windows on the south elevation would be to service a corridor, which is not a habitable room.
“This layout would be the same for all floors and therefore it is considered there would be no significant loss of amenity to the occupiers of Marsden Terrace through overlooking.
“The proposed conversion into residential will bring the building back into active use and enhance its appearance to the benefit of the adjacent conservation area.”
The car park, which was used when the building was offices, would be used to accommodate up to 15 vehicles.
It was also said that, although the development would generate traffic, more would be created if the building returned to its former office use.