Cheshire East Council is looking to re-market the site of a disused care facility in Handforth, inviting offers on both conditional and unconditional basis.
A cabinet decision was made in March 2011 to dispose of a number of properties for affordable housing and Cypress House on South Acre Drive was one of the sites earmarked for disposal for affordable housing.
A sale was agreed with a housing association in 2013, however following further due diligence by them the scheme was deemed unviable therefore the purchaser was unable to proceed at the agreed level of offer.
As well as achieving a capital receipt from the sale of Cypress House, the sale will relieve the Council of holding costs which are currently circa £26,000 per annum.
The site extends to approximately 0.77 acres and provides a two storey former care home facility with associated car parking areas and landscaping. The former care home measures approximately 16,002 sq ft and provides 31 bedrooms, most of which provide en-suite WC facilities, plus a kitchen, several living areas and staff offices. The buildings are in a semi-dilapidated state having been left vacant for a number of years.
In June, Equity Housing Group were granted planning permission to demolish Cypress House and replace it with 13 two-bedroom houses which were to be made available for affordable rent. The scheme includes associated highway and landscaping works and the provision of 20 car parking spaces along with 26 cycling spaces.
However, Equity Housing Group withdrew the planning application on September 3rd.
Councillor Don Stockton, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Assets is being asked to approve the re-marketing of Cypress House at a meeting on Monday, 14th September.
