Plans to enable former chemists to become a restaurant withdrawn

cedrics

A planning application to enable an empty retail unit in the village centre to be changed into a restaurant has been withdrawn.

Mr Yeramian was proposing to change the use of 67 London Road, from retail (A1) and offices (B1) to a restaurant (A3).

There was no specific restaurant use envisaged for the property but the change of use would have enabled the premises, which have been vacant for 12 months, to be marketed as a potential restaurant.

The four storey building, including a basement, is currently vacant with the ground floor last being occupied by Cedrics Chemist and the first and second floors having been used for offices.

The application states that "Whilst considerable effort has been put into the marketing of the property since August 2016 there is simply no interest in utilising the ground floor for retail purposes. This is despite the incentives which have been offered in the form of rent free periods and reduced rentals. The result is that the premises have been vacant for 12 months and this empty shop unit has made no contribution to the vitality and viability of the village.

"The shop front is also now starting to detract from the visual appearance of the area. Since the proposed change of use would only increase the amount of non-retail frontage present on London Road by 2% I would suggest that this would not cause any significant harm to the vitality and viability of the village."

Councillor Craig Browne said "I understand that it was withdrawn following concerns expressed by a number of residents (and councillors) at a recent meeting of the Parish Council Plans Committee, although I was not able to attend on this occasion.

"The applicant had tried (unsuccessfully) to let the double unit at 67 London Road for retail use and I understand had been advised by his agent to seek a change of use to A3, to improve the rental potential of the unit.

"Both parish councillors and residents had asked me to call-in application 17/4127M, but in the end it proved to be unnecessary, as it was withdrawn anyway."

Twelve letters of objection were received in regard to this application, one of which was from The Edge Association who said "There are already 19 premises along London Road in Alderley Edge which are already providing a restaurant, café service. This represents about a third of the available shop premises and in many cases they are using double units. Quite simply, enough is enough. We do not need any more late night noise, crowding and further disruption."

A resident of The Avenue wrote "I would be directly effected by a change of use of this property. Aside from the fact that the village certainly does not need another restaurant I am strongly concerned about the impact of delivery vehicles and waste collection vehicles using the Avenue to gain access to the commercial property."

A local business owner said "I feel obligated as a local trader to make the point that this is yet another retail space being lost to the culture of bars and eateries steadily consuming this village and it's reputation. With the greatest respect for Mr. H Yeramian, i don't agree that every effort has been made to present this unit in it's best light, in fact i believe it's quite evident that no investment in its appearance has been made in quite some time, it's little wonder that it hasn't attracted the attention of a retailer."

He added "In my time here in the village (some fifteen years) we have lost eight units to bars and restaurants and we simply cannot sustain any more. The constant mess each morning caused by cigarette butts, glasses and bottles left behind by the patrons of these establishments is only getting worse and will continue to do so if we allow more to open."

Whilst a neighbour wrote "The Planning Inspector has previously stated that further concentration of A2 and A3 use would undermine Alderley Edge's important day to day shopping role and detract from the character and appearance of the area. Alderley is being ruined by an influx of drunk, drug-taking customers of the many bars already present, who have no regard for the village. The anti social behaviour exhibited by these people is adversely affecting the village and its residents."

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Planning Applications
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Comments

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Helen Gaughan
Friday 22nd September 2017 at 9:01 pm
What will happen to this unit ?? As my shop is next door ( and has been for 30 years , 20 of which I have been manager !! ) I take a keen interest as to who would be my new potential neighbour !!!! I wonder what other people's thoughts are ..... I fear that we may have another Wine Rack situation which was vacant for many years before Margaret Dabbs became resident .... Surely no one wants that ?