Initial proposals to redevelop a prominent town centre site have been unveiled to members of the public.
Annabelle Tugby Architects, a local architecture practice based in Styal, have been working with Property Alliance Group on the proposal for a 4 star hotel and restaurant to replace the 'eyesore' that is Tescos and the former sports bar on Alderly Road.
Susie Fairbank Angus said "Being just down the road from Wilmslow, we feel invested in the future of the area. The Wilmslow Neighbourhood Plan pinpointed the Tescos Alderley Road site as one that is in need of development and therefore we think it is a great opportunity for a high quality piece of architecture to be part of the wider masterplan for the area.
"Over the past month we have met with members of Cheshire East Council, Wilmslow Town Council, Residents of Wilmslow and Transition Wilmslow to discuss the site and proposal which we have found to be very informative throughout the process so far."
A public consultation, held at Wilmslow Library on Tuesday 10th December, was attended by about 100 people who were able to view the scheme, which included a model and sketches.
Susie added "At this point our proposal is only at the initial feasibility stage so the design is by no means final, therefore we wanted to get as much feedback as possible! We showed a physical card model and sketches of our initial proposal (images above) which helped to communicate our ideas to the public. We found the model was a great way of encouraging the visitors to engage with the scheme and give us their thoughts and ideas.
"We really enjoyed meeting and talking to so many local people, and we hope that those who came along found it to be interesting."
Below is an overview of the feedback they gathered:
- It was agreed that it's a great opportunity to create a high quality building in Wilmslow and hopefully will be a catalyst for other high quality developments to arise in the area.
- The proposal of a hotel and restaurant was well received and the design was regarded as being a big improvement on the existing eyesore!
- There was an overall opinion that the proposal has a good opportunity to improve the surrounding public realm ; something that we are keen to focus on.
The following are the main queries and their responses
Parking
- Some people were concerned that the proposal of a hotel could add to the issue of car parking in Wilmslow. We appreciate this and are aware of the excess of traffic and parking problems that the centre currently has.
- Town centre hotels do not usually have dedicated car parks and it is expected that any requirement from the hotel users for car parking will fall overnight when car parking isn't such an issue in Wilmslow.
- It would be great if, as the WNP states, public transport links could be improved to reduce the reliance of cars working towards a greener future.
Hotel Viability - Is a hotel right for the site?
- The interested hoteliers have done their research and concluded that Wilmslow is a great location for a hotel.
- A hotel would improve the growing visitors economy of the area, bringing more people and business to the local shops and restaurants of Wilmslow.
Susie explained "We now hope to build on the feedback received and work towards developing an elegant and well considered design. This remains a once in a generation opportunity to upgrade this key site in Wilmslow as a result of the lease coming to an end on Tescos, with a scheme that will improve this eyesore and help set the agenda for new developments in Wilmslow."
They intend to submit a planning application in the new year.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Before one of the local "grumblies" dives in, may I be the first to point out that, with the addition of a semi-colon to the title we have:
"Initial proposals to transform town centre; eyesore revealed." ;-)
My one reservation is the inevitable lack of parking provision. Not everyone checks in to or out of hotels before the commuters arrive/leave.
I’d like to make the following comments on what Susie Fairbank Angus is reported as saying and what the author of the article reports:
1) There is no “wider masterplan for the area”.
2) “At this point our proposal is only at the initial feasibility stage”. I assume by this she is referring to stage 2 of the 2019 version of the RIBA Plan of Work (Concept Design)
3) My opinion is that commuting by car into Wilmslow for non residents commences at about 5:30am. and continues until gone 9:00am
4) As a professional in the built environment I’m surprised that a planning application is being planned for the new year.
I was a member of the Wilmslow Neighbourhood Plan Group and was one of the four member team who looked in detail at the Town Centre.
I agree that this is a once in a generation opportunity to do something with this eyesore. However, the developers have only secured part of the site. For this scheme to go ahead then they will have to secure the remaining land. One part of this is currently retail, the other residential housing.
And finally: After visiting the consultation, I thought more about the height of the hotel block (circa 5 levels above street level).
Maybe this might be a bit imposing for the town centre.
Take a look at the photograph of the existing site. I assume this development will be significantly higher than the tree that can be seen behind Tesco’s.
I’m sure you have spent much time so far, but this is not “elegant”, nor well enough considered.
It is a boxy, somewhat brutalist outline. It doesn’t please the eye.
Could we not have an imaginative design that incorporates green walls?
If we are striving to be a plastic free town, we could take this opportunity to help towards clean air in Wilmslow.
Where are Hotel residents cars going? An underground car park? At what cost?
There has to be a better plan please.
As there is no provision for car parking in this building, we all know what that means. I suppose there must be upwards of 50 bedrooms plus staff and very few of those will walk to work or use public transport. It costs to provide guest parking but I've stayed in hotels with car parks in the basement and this should be considered, here.
We do need this corner of the town improving but this is not the final solution.
As Sheila says, it is brutalist. It's a mish-mash of un co-ordinated unimaginative boxy structures above some threateningly dark spaces. It has all the elegance and subtle design of a 1950s military barracks.
Where's the imagination? As Sheila asks, where are the green walls (or anything else that smacks of creativity)? If the architects can't come up with something that lifts the soul in this prime town-centre site, get architects who can! Whatever is built there will there for a long time. Let's get it right!
In a previous threadon Lisa's site ; https://bit.ly/36EDEe1 Cllr Goldsmith explained " Extra parking for this development is likely to be incorporated into the new all-day car park that Cheshire East is considering to build nearby. This development may also help fund it too "..
So although at an early stage .. it looks like joined up thinking.. not the bluster and deceit that previously made us all very sceptical of tribal politicians ..
Lets give the new regime a chance.. so far they haven't let me down and i'm sure they will try their best for their electorate.
Does the plot include the terraced cottages on Green Lane and the off road parking behind?
Does the plot go up to and include the Asian restaurant?
Will the parking behind the restaurant and adjacent premises be retained?
Are the church hall and associated green and parking areas to remain?
This would excite me but the current design does the opposite!
For someone it will be simply, profit - good on them if they get the final go ahead but I'm bleating - again - for more open space and low key mini-development if absolutely necessary.
Derate/redesignate the land use and blight any 'big building' notions from the get go.
Wilsmow centre isn't going to die for the lack of a hotel and yet more restaurants, get real.