A development company has informed Cheshire East Council of their intention to demolish the former Yesterdays nightclub in Alderley Edge because the building is structurally unsafe.
The Victorian villa at Harden Park is also vulnerable to vandalism and due to its structural condition this is considered a health and safety risk.
A recent inspection revealed that the roof structure, staircases, flooring and internal brickwork are in such a deteriorated state of disrepair that they need removing as a matter of urgency. Temporary supports would also need to be provided for all the walls left standing.
The inspector concluded that "to effect these works safely, the risk of collapse of the remaining structure is so high as to warrant the demolition".
The demolition works are expected to commence on 1st October and be completed by 1st December 2015.
Following demolition of the 1,245 square metre, two and a half storey building the site will be cleared and made secure.
In June MCR Property Group submitted a planning application to demolish the former nightclub and replace it with ten 4-bedroom detached bungalows on the 1.67 Ha site which lies in the North Cheshire Green Belt.
Yesterdays nightclub closed in 2004 and the property has remained vacant since.
The planning application, which is yet to be determined, can be viewed on the Cheshire East Council website by searching for planning reference 15/1955M.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
turn it into a meadow perhaps?
where we differ jackie - is im not obsessed by your like for like point of view. The land should be developed and is a good site for such a development
Whether its bungalows or gated mansions - so what.
Why would all buyers need to drive to local amenities? It's about 750m from the centre of the village. That's easy walking distance for all but the very old and disabled.
I can understand the objection to development on things that are currently just open fields, but objecting to development on sites that are derelict eyesores is crazy. This is exactly the type of brownfield site they should be using, and should do the same with the old County Hotel while they are at it.
By the way, its an old developer trick - let the property decay, so you have to pull it down because of H&S. Much less resistance to losing a charming old building that way.
PS Graham Peters: seems like your 1st ever comment here and it is a gushing endorsement for the plans and further development. How convenient for them. BTW, how exactly did you register your interest with the developers given there is no mention of it on their web site?
An unloved building, I'm afraid, of no commercial value, could have been demolished years ago and something constructed in it's place. Why so slow?
It's not in Wilmslow now. Our newish boundary finishes at the bypass island, so it's AEPC and AE residents to influence the northern planning group.
The faster we have something there the better, but it's unlikely to be pastures green and cattle gently grazing! Or a park.........
So let's not squabble children. Play nicely! Let AE submit their comments. They have the plan references in the article.
Anyone with a bit of interest in local planning can check what's going on - I live less than 1/2 mile away. It's easy for anyone to read the Planning application and see who the developer is! Is not rocket science - just common sense!
Having been resident in Wilmslow for 30 years and 20 years prior to that in Alderley Edge, I do have an interest - I even worked in the Harden Park Hotel as a teenager when it was privately owned and Managed by Bob Verity.
The building was needing substantial refurbishment back in the 80's when it was sold - the makeover then served a purpose - and like other people, I enjoyed a drink or two in the place when it was Yesterday's.
The last planning application for the place was seen as a step too far - a hotel with 30+ bedrooms, so a residential option at least removes the decrepit eyesore that it's become.
I wait with interest to what the outcome is next week when the planning decision is made. Oh by the way - that's also displayed on the Cheshire East website!
Green belt policy is outdated. The world will pass you by and one day you will wake up..... or perhaps not. In either case. The world will go on. 1950's policy.... nearly 60 years later. Ummmmmm
If application is rejected could the Villa later be destroyed by an unattributable fire or sold on?
The current building became a permitted edifice became a permitted building within the later greenbelt, not the whole curtilage, so AFAIK any replacement structures can only occupy footprint of existing building.
Conversion to a Mosque is not a problem, provided above constraints are applied.
If the County, Villa etc were developed (above) as affordable housing whilst maintaining exterior façade, I would have no objection.
Has this hurdle been overcome? It seems the site is contaminated and development id refused.
A beautiful building. Such a shame that money speaks louder than taste. I've often hoped someone with umph would bring it back to its former glory rather than erase it from the landscape to replace it with yet more unaffordable housing.
Sad.