Plans to build a retirement complex on the site of the old Wilmslow Police Station are recommended for approval even though Cheshire East won't receive the full financial contributions from the applicant.

Chris McCarthy & Stone Retirement Lifestyles Ltd plans to bulldoze the existing building off Hawthorn Street and construct 52 apartments for mainly over-60s on the site.

The scheme will be open market housing and comprise 27 one-bedroom apartments and 25 two-bed flats.

The four-storey building will include a communal room, guest bedroom, scooter store, entrance and lift on the ground floor.

At first, second and third floors there are also general storerooms.

A report from the council's planning officer to next week's meeting of the northern planning committee states: "The loss of the existing police station building and offices is considered to be acceptable noting the approved new police station within the wider site is currently under construction.

"The proposed mix of units is considered to meet local demands for downsizing for older residents in a sustainable settlement location."

But it continues: "The application was subject of a viability assessment which was independently evaluated and concluded that a sum of £1,115,000 is available for NHS, outdoor sport and recreation, green infrastructure, allotments and play space completely and off-site affordable housing.

"This is lower than the overall total financial contributions for these infrastructure, requirements, off-site affordable housing and services of £2,950,509.

"A provision of 16 on-site affordable housing was not considered viable."

A number of residents have objected to the plans including Councillor Mark Goldsmith (pictured)(Wilsmlow Town Council).

Ward councillor Mark Goldsmith (Ind) has objected to the proposal on safety grounds saying: "The access to the car park is shared with the new proposed police station [and] considered to be a safety issue for the elderly."

He also said the building is out of keeping for the immediate area due to its height and scale.

Ansa Greenspace has objected listing a number of reasons, including the four-storey building will have an overbearing impact on the immediate green space to the north and there is limited private amenity space for residents to the north of the building.

Wilmslow Town Council and a number of residents have also objected.

The council's planning officer has recommended the scheme be approved saying: "On balance, the lack of policy compliant financial contributions and on-site affordable housing provision, is considered to be outweighed by the high-quality design of the scheme, redevelopment of a prominent and key brownfield site at the entrance to the town centre identified in the Wilmslow Neighbourhood Plan and the need for dwellings providing opportunities for downsizing in settlement boundary and town centre locations."

The application is due to be considered at the next meeting of the northern planning committee which takes place at Macclesfield Town Hall at 10am on Wednesday 2 October.

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