Plans to transform a Grade II listed former church into 18 apartments have been recommended for rejection. St John the Baptist Church in Bollington, which shut its doors around two decades ago, had previously received approval in 2010 to be converted into 13 high-end flats, complete with parking and landscaping. This permission was renewed, and the applicant maintains it is still valid due to some initial work being started.
However, Cheshire East Council contends that the permission has expired. Two years prior, a proposal was put forward to redevelop the building into 18 apartments, and this is set to be reviewed at the upcoming meeting of the northern planning committee next Wednesday. A report by Cheshire East's planning officer to the committee notes: "The proposals would provide small one and two-bedroom homes in line with one of the greatest needs highlighted in the Bollington Neighbourhood Plan, which at first glance is a positive feature of the development.
" The report also recognises the conversion of the listed building into homes as potentially beneficial, stating it 'is considered to hold public benefit as an optimum future use for the building'. Nevertheless, the report outlines several grounds for refusal, reports . It asserts: "The development does not propose a housing mix of types, sizes or tenures that meets the locally defined needs including that for affordable housing, downsizing and homes for elderly/older persons.
" Additionally, it points out that some.