M&S plans to expand Handforth Dean store back on the agenda

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Plans to expand the Marks and Spencers' store at Handforth Dean Retail Park, which they jointly own with Tesco and opened in October 1995, are finally due to be determined by the Strategic Planning Board next week - two years after the initial application was submitted.

The proposal also includes making amendments to the car park layout. 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 planning application was scheduled be determined at last month's meeting of the Strategic Planning Board when the Planning Officer was recommending it for refusal because "a number of sites can be identified that have not been considered within the sequential assessment. These sites may be sequentially preferable to the application site and therefore it cannot currently be concluded that the application complies with the sequential approach required by policy EG5 of the CELPS."

However, the application was withdrawn ahead of the meeting and is now being recommended for approval at the Strategic Planning Board meeting on Wednesday, 25th September.

As part of their original submission, Marks and Spencers undertook a search for sites which included Daisy Bank Lane, Heald Green; Land South East of the Junction of Styal Road and Finney Lane, Heald Green; Metropolitan House, Cheadle Hulme; Massie Street Car Park, Cheadle; Cheshire East Leisure Centre Car Park, Wilmslow; Land at Meadway, Bramhall; Water Street, Stockport; and Barracks Mill, Macclesfield.

Each of these sites was dismissed, and it is accepted that none of them are available and suitable to accommodate the proposed development, either in part or in full. The applicant was subsequently asked to consider vacant sites in Macclesfield, Stockport and Wythenshawe town centres.

All the additional sites considered were deemed too small to accommodate the extended store or unsuitable and the Planning Officer concluded "There are not considered to be any available sites that are sequentially preferable to the application site and therefore it is considered that the proposal satisfies the sequential test.".

As a result the Planning Officer is now recommended the plans for approval.

Tags:
Marks and Spencers, Planning Applications
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Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

David Pearce
Wednesday 18th September 2019 at 11:51 am
Hmm - M & S store expansion & standard car parking spaces reduced from 248 to 153 - for this out of town retail park location - what's the logic?
John Chidgey
Wednesday 18th September 2019 at 2:13 pm
It would greatly help our high streets if you had to pay similar parking charges at these out-of-town stores
Neda Metcalfe
Wednesday 18th September 2019 at 2:47 pm
As there are numerous empty parking spaces available on this site I don’t think a-slight reduction would harm except people may have to walk a little further. Load of parking over near petrol station that’s hardy ever used
Rick Andrews
Wednesday 18th September 2019 at 5:59 pm
Yes, the spaces are being taken from the small area right next to M&S, which is always a pain to access anyway.