Empty office building set to become car showroom

by Lisa Reeves

Friday 30^th September 2016

Fri 30^th Sep 2016

Plans for the change of use and external alterations to an office building in Handforth which has been vacant since the end of 2011 have been approved.

The Emerson Group have been granted permission to change Deanway One, a vacant two-storey building off Manchester Road, to a car showroom and/or offices. The scheme includes external alterations to the building and changes to the car park.

Planning consent (14/4615M) was granted in December 2014 for the change of use of Deanway One from offices to a car showroom with a ground floor extension, external alterations and a lifting platform.

However, a prospective new tenant has now been found to occupy the building as a car showroom and they do not require the ground floor extension but instead requires a number of external alterations, including a new disabled ramp at the main entrance, five new parking spaces, a vehicle wash bay and feature garden.

Additionally, the scheme includes internal alterations to incorporate a vehicle display, cafe, admin and staff facilities along with new doors, windows and an internal car lift to enable cars to be displayed in the first floor showroom.

It is proposed that the car showroom will be open from 7am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm Saturday and 10am to 4pm Sundays and Bank Holidays.

The plans can be viewed on the Cheshire East Council website by searching for planning reference 16/3712M.

Tags:: Planning Applications

Comments

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

DELETED ACCOUNT

Friday 30^th September 2016 at 12:55 pm

"Vacant since the end of 2011". Meanwhile at the Local Plan Inspection developers are arguing that more office space is needed.

Julie Green

Friday 30^th September 2016 at 1:10 pm

Put housing on the site and save some green belt!

Terry Roeves

Monday 3^rd October 2016 at 9:46 am

An interesting reflection that businesses don't want to locate here, but residents who as likely as not, work in Greater Manchester are expected to buy cars from here, which, odds on, will be imported.
Remember 'Buy British' or 'Export or Die'?
No wonder our nation's debts rise inexorably each month and our trade balance remains ever red. So much for national or local government strategy and of course our Local Plan.
Jackie Pass makes an extremely important point. Will Cheshire East take a reality check? Please?

Julia Prestbury

Tuesday 4^th October 2016 at 4:24 pm

For me this is sad, this is where I worked for 3 happy years till the company relocated to Warrington. Should remain as an office in my opinion, nice building.

Jon Armstrong

Tuesday 4^th October 2016 at 5:03 pm

Britain's car industry died because they made poor quality cars nobody wanted and were slow to move with the times.

Surely the property being filled, people being employed in Cheshire East and the dealership paying rates in Cheshire East is a good thing? Why does where the customers live or work matter? Most businesses are happy to attract customers from beyond their doorstep.

Barry Buxton

Wednesday 5^th October 2016 at 3:07 pm

Hear Hear Jon!

Sandra Cox

Wednesday 5^th October 2016 at 4:30 pm

I agree Jon with your views about change of use of this building but one of the reasons the British car industry died was union power in the '70's. Developing countries, like South Korea where my Father spent three years helping establish Hyundai, were hungry to learn and to work hard and they flourished.

Simon Worthington

Wednesday 5^th October 2016 at 5:06 pm

Wonder why Pete knocked down an existing car showroom to build offices then. The still unlet building skulking behind the Slug and Lettuce with hardly any parking.
Plenty of room on Stanley Green for showrooms. Housing with people who will support what is left of Handforth's shops would be better.