Wilmslow's largest employer has been granted planning permission to build a new headquarters in the town.
The Strategic Planning Committee met earlier today (Wednesday, 13th July), and approved Royal London's outline planning application for new offices on the land to the east of the Royal London campus on Alderley Road.
Reacting to the announcement a Royal London spokesperson said; "This is good news, and the first step in getting full approval. The planning application includes; new offices and car parking, plus pedestrian cycle and vehicle access improvements to the land to the east of Royal London House.
"Clearly the proposal for a new office in Wilmslow remains a contender, alongside other the two developments that we're currently considering."
Royal London say the development would ensure the retention of 960 jobs in Wilmslow and securing the provision of an additional 500 to 600 jobs in the town.
The next step is for Cheshire East Council to refer this matter to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) who are required to assess Cheshire East's decision, as the land is currently within the Cheshire Green Belt.
A decision is expected from DCLG later in the summer.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
Interesting times with a local WTC election due on 4th August and who knows what lies ahead for the Tatton Constituency?
We elect these people to support our wishes yet, time after time, they have gone against the manifest public reaction to attacks on the Green Belt. Whose interests are they serving?
I sincerely hope that the electorate makes clear their opposition on 4th August. We have a shining example just up the road in Alderley, where EVERY Tory Councillor was booted out of office last year because they did not listen to, or respect the wishes of, the electorate. An unprecedented situation, when an entire Council was kicked out and all Independents were elected.
It is a case of "should" not "could" this have waited? The land given over to this approved application is allocated within the emerging Local Plan that is not yet approved. Given the over provision of housing and land allocated for employment Mr Pratt, Government Inspector, may well finally fail the revised Plan on the grounds Cheshire East has consistently not listened and not met legal requirements. They got away with it at Adlington Road on weight of law. This is looking like a repeat performance and it stinks. The Local Plan is a process that our councillors should insist is followed to the end, not vote to have developments approved part way through just because the end product is inevitable. The end is only inevitable because they are not committed to have it any other way. It is the inevitability of party politics. The people of Alderley Edge have it right. Wilmslow East has a chance to change things coming up on 4th August by voting Independent.
Independants on the committee voted against premature approval (with one other councillor) advocating awaiting the Inspector's examination in two months time.
The majority Conservatives with Lib Dem support voted to ignore the locally expressed opposition to this premature application.
In voting this way, both the Conservatives and Lib Dem demonstrated the absolute necessity to vote for an independent councillor in the WTC by-election on the 4th August.
Your independent voice will only be heard when the Residents of Wilmslow Independent candidate, Mark Goldsmith, is elected, putting People Before Party!
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The A34 was a traffic by-pass - to ease congestion for Handforth/Wilmslow and Alderley Edge. It should not be considered some sort of building line boundary for in-fill development. This new proposal for a 'greenhouse' office block is un-proportional and inappropriate and Royal London have other local options just up the road for relocation or additional workspace.
I urge all constituants to consider exactly what(who) their local Councillors represent when they participate in these important decisions.
We all have an opportunity, I 100% endorse the sentiments expressed here by Peter Taylor - follow the lead of Alderley Edge, boot the whole lot out on 4th August and get people independent of the main political parties who have local interests at heart.
Unless they are proposing 'Wexit' of Wilmslow from the UK we need to play our part in addressing the economic needs of the country.
Regardless, without Royal London in Wilmslow (and they seem likely to pull out completely if they can't expand) the local economy would suffer to a considerable degree - and our ability to fund and maintain all of those things that the whingers hold dear would be severely compromised.
Expansion of Royal London provides economic benefits for all local folk; well beyond the conservatives (with a small c) and older generation who can't tolerate change.
Voting for the independent candidate in the Wilmslow East by-election for the Town Council on 4 August would not in fact change anything in this respect.