M&S plans to expand Handforth Dean store

Marks and Spencer are seeking planning permission to expand their store at Handforth Dean Retail Park, which they jointly own with Tesco and opened in October 1995.

The proposal also includes making amendments to the car park layout and the provision of a new staff car park on an adjacent area of grassland.

Marks and Spencer and Tesco also own two parcels on undeveloped land to the west of the Retail Park which are bounded by Coppice Way, Kiln Croft Lane and Lower Meadows Road. They are proposing to create a dedicated staff car park with 145 spaces at Site 3 (see above) which will enable them to release car parking spaces in the existing car park to facilitate a 2,450 square metre extension to the store's retail space.

The scheme includes the rearrangement of the internal access roads and changes to the layout of the existing car park. The current car park provides 248 spaces with 13 accessible spaces and eleven parent and child spaces. The proposed scheme will see the number of spaces reduced to 153 with 14 accessible spaces, 6 parent and child spaces and a new drop off/pick up zone with 4 spaces.

The proposed car park extension, which will create 145 car parking spaces, will be reserved exclusively for staff to allow for the main car park to be used by customers. To ensure that the car park extension is used by staff only a barrier will be located at the access/egress.

Tesco and Marks and Spencer are currently in negotiation, with an unnamed company, regarding the sale of the other parcel of land (Site 2), which will be subject to a separate planning application by the new owners.

In May, Cheshire East Council gave the green light for a large number of retail units along with restaurants, cafes, drive-thus and parking to be built on Council owned land adjacent to the existing Marks and Spencer, Tesco and Next stores.

Alderley Edge based developer Consolidated Property Group (CPG) was granted planning permission for the second and third phases of their Handforth Dean Shopping Park which will add about 25 retail units. CPGs third application for an extension to the recently constructed Next store (which CPG sold last earlier this year for £15.8m), Phase 1 of the £160 million scheme, was also approved. All three of CPG's planning applications have been referred to the Secretary of State and are subject to the necessary clearance.

A fourth application from Orbit Developments for a retail development on the adjacent site was refused on the grounds that it would result in the loss of employment land. Orbit applied to demolish the existing warehouses at the junction of Earl Road and Epsom Avenue and replace them with a parade of six units and a standalone unit. Orbit's application is currently the subject of a planning appeal.

Marks and Spencer's plans can be viewed on the Cheshire East Council website by searching for planning reference 17/4497M. The late date for submitting comments is 19th October and a decision is expected by 5th December.

Tags:
Handforth Dean, Handforth Dean Retail Park, Marks and Spencers, Planning Applications
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Comments

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Simon Worthington
Thursday 28th September 2017 at 10:10 am
145 parking spaces for staff!!! Ludicrous.
DELETED ACCOUNT
Thursday 28th September 2017 at 11:01 am
What I can't understand is why M@S can't go upwards. Tescos is 2 storey and the Next at the other end is even higher.