Plans for a retirement complex on the site of the old Wilmslow Police Station have been refused because the scheme does not provide on-site affordable housing.

McCarthy & Stone wants to bulldoze the existing building off Hawthorn Street and construct 52 apartments for mainly over-60s.

Cheshire East's planners had recommended it be approved.

But the application does not include on-site affordable housing – instead an off-site financial contribution was proposed.

Local resident Stuart Redgard, who helped develop the Wilmslow Neighbourhood Plan, told yesterday's (Wednesday 2 October) meeting of the northern planning committee: "We determined it should be used for a mixture of uses including affordable homes… it is the only site in the heart of Wilmslow that is able to provide such a scheme."

Ward councillor Mark Goldsmith (Ind), speaking as a visiting member, said: "This application is too tall, too big, too near the public park, has too few car parking spaces and too few affordable homes, therefore you need to refuse it, because it's just not needed."

Ward councillor Mark Goldsmith spoke out against the plans (Cheshire East Council).

The applicant's agent said the scheme 'will help address the existing and growing need for older persons' accommodation in Wilmslow'.

He added it would be making 'a significant financial contribution towards off-site affordable housing'.

Councillors heard the applicant had originally said just £58,350 was available for financial contributions across the board.

An independent viability assessment later determined more should be contributed and eventually the figure of £1.115m was agreed upon – with £915,247 of that to go towards off-site affordable housing.

But committee members were not happy.

Chelford councillor Anthony Harrison proposed the scheme be refused (Cheshire East Council).

Cllr Anthony Harrison (Chelford, Con) who proposed the scheme be refused, said: "I think we do need to do more, when the local residents and councillors have found this perfect site for affordable housing, to actually make sure that affordable housing is put in these areas, instead of continually we see affordable houses on the outskirts of Macclesfield and Crewe."

Cllr Nick Mannion (Macclesfield, Lab) agreed saying: "I think this site is a large sustainable site in the centre of one of our most unaffordable places to live in Cheshire East."

He added: "This is a site, the like of which will probably not come forward again for many years in Wilmslow and my view is we should do everything to make sure it allows families to live in Wilmslow who otherwise could not afford to compete on the open market."

Macclesfield councillor Nick Mannion agreed the plans should be refused (Cheshire East Council).

Cllr Liz Braithwaite (Macclesfield, Lab) said: "I always have issues when developers want to pay less than the right amount of affordable housing.

"If it's not viable, then leave the site for affordable housing,"

Committee chair David Jefferay (Ind) said: "In an ideal world, I'd rather this wasn't in this location. I think.. it should be a mixed use site."

But he said he couldn't see a reason to refuse which could be defended at appeal.

Planning officer Paul Wakefield said he understood the committee's reason for refusal was lack of affordable housing 'but what I don't understand is, in this particular instance, why we're not accepting the financial contribution'.

Bollington councillor, Ken Edwards (Lab), who seconded refusal, said: "As I understand, there's quite a serious need for affordable housing in Wilmslow.

"I understand there are no sites in Wilmslow currently where that can be allocated."

The application was refused on the grounds of lack of affordable housing with eight councillors voting for refusal, two against and one abstained.

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