Revised plans to replace former care home with two apartment blocks

Revised plans have been submitted for the demolition of a former care home in Handforth and construction of two apartment blocks on the corner of Wilmslow Road and South Acre Drive.

Wilmslow Property Developments are proposing to replace Cypress House with 44 apartments, which will be a mixture of one, two and three bedroom apartments.

The scheme proposes the demolition of the existing building, which was used as a nursing home until 2006 and has been unoccupied since, and construction of new apartments housed in two apartment blocks. The proposed buildings will be two storey with additional accommodation in the roofspace.

The revised scheme has been broken into two elements to avoid an over-dominant building and the proposals have been reduced in scale and mass. Additionally less detail has been included on the elevations.

The Design & Access Statement says "Following comments of the previous planning officer, the proposal has been retained as traditional but more understated than the previous design to be more in keeping with the surrounding area.

"The proposed building has been designed to be traditional in character and appearance in keeping with the surrounding area. Traditional details such as timber cladding and stone detailing are incorporated across the elevations. Juliet balconies feature to some apartments to the rear."

51 car parking spaces have been provided for the 44 apartments with some parking located underneath the second apartment block.

The planning application can be viewed on the Cheshire East Council website by searching for planning reference 16/4462M. The last date for submitting comments is 13th October and a decision is expected by 6th December.

Equity Housing Group was granted planning permission to demolish Cypress House in June 2015 and replace it with 13 two-bedroom houses to be made available for affordable rent. However, Equity Housing Group withdrew the planning application in September 2016.