In July Middlemede Properties Ltd submitted a revised planning application seeking retrospective permission for the construction of the retail and office development at 17-23 London Road. As many of you will know the development is nearing completion with a Tesco Express due to open shortly.
The revised application now features a 25m loading bay on London Road. Use of the loading bay is restricted to 7am-10am and 3pm-7pm with waiting limited to one hour. According to the submitted Design & Access Statement no HGV's will use Clifton Street. Additionally double yellow lines along Clifton Street will cover access to the basement parking and the side passageway against No. 1 Clifton Street.
Speaking with the planning department this morning I was informed that this application is going to committee on Wednesday 23rd September and any letters of objection or support received prior to the committee meeting in two days will be considered. A decision is then due on October 20th.
To review the revised planning application visit www.planportal.macclesfield.gov.uk and search for the application using reference 09/2028m.
What do you think of the development and Tesco coming to Alderley Edge? Share your opinion by completing the comment box below.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
More choice, more jobs, looks better when passing by car.
Does anybody know what the plans are for opening hours, alcohol licensing and a cashpoint?
While I agree that in many ways the new building is a huge improvement on the derelict site that was there before, the building viewed from Clifton Street is not a work of art and very imposing for all the wrong reasons.
I am confused as to where in the village the planning notices for this site are being posted because if it had not been for alderleyedge.com I would not have known that the cut off for comments is tomorrow.
Does the village really need another supermarket, given that we already have Somerfield? Let's not forget that Tesco Express does not stock a full range of Tesco products (thankfully this site is not big enough) and the products are priced to reflect the higher running costs of a smaller store.
How would people feel if once in the village, Tesco move to take over the post office (and other local amenities) as they have done in Wilmslow?
Interesting that in George Osborne MP's recent questionnaire to homes in the village he asked about people's feelings about restaurants etc but not a word was mentioned about this site. Was it not the case that in the original planning application the space was to be divided into smaller retail units?
A Tesco's vehicle is not much bigger than a bus.
We shop at Somerfields (soon to be a Coop) six days a week so it will be nice to be able to have a choice.
Tesco will provide a number of jobs for the community and people will meet in the shop and make friendly conversation with staff and friends from the village. And as for it being one of Tesco's policies to shut down all the local shops that's a new one on me! I can't believe you think that will happen, Tesco express is a convenience store there for convenience! Not your weekly shop! Tesco cannot provide a full butchers and a bakery instore so obviously people will continue to use those local facilities and I'm glad they will! Not sure about other peoples families but I do know mine aren't that easy to predict " I will run out of milk at exactly such and such and hour" and if my family need milk I won't put my views before my families welfare. And if you choose not to shop there then that's your hard luck and you will miss out, while the rest of us enjoy!
Tesco does not "provide jobs for the community". Their business model is based on low employment costs. Fewer people paid less to sell more. (Tesco's sales are around £200k per employee)
Of course it is Tesco's policy to take trade away from, and consequently close down the local shops. That is where their entire sales will come from - existing customers of existing shops. There are no new customers in this market. And many Tesco Expresses do have an in store bakery.
Never mind, we could always do with a few more charity shops, and maybe even a pound shop or two might be persuaded to move here. Although I see Tesco's are even trying to push them out now as well.
There are already 5 Tesco stores within 5 miles of Alderley, 4 of which are Tesco Expresses. Wilmslow, Dean Row, Handforth and Heald Green. The Wilmslow one is 1.8 miles away, about 4 minutes by car on a Sunday night. Surely for the isolated occasion you need something when Somerfields is closed you could spare the 4 minutes to travel to Wilmslow.
The shop is is easy enough to find - just look for the cars double-parked on the pavement, litter everywhere and sullen teenagers loitering outside smoking and drinking. Welcome to your new look Alderley Edge.
The building is utterly devoid of any architectural merit, it detracts rather than enhances and the materials used are inappropriate and substandard. There have been clear planning breaches, the necessity of goods unloading will no doubt impact on the A34 and there may be vandalism and rubbish problems but Tesco will open their store.
Instead of complaining, why not take the broader view. Apart from thinking of those in the immediate vicinity of the store who have been and will be directly affected by the development and local businesses and their potential concerns, think of the longer term general impact on the village. When you have done this and if you are still in a negative frame of mind, not only on this particular development but of how the village is run generally come along to the Parish Plan meeting on the 21st of this month and help to avoid a similar occurrence in the future.
You can have your say on what happens in the village; Hazel Blears instigated this devolution and whilst she may have been a bit confused about her expenses, on a local level you don't have to be confused and can have some control of this. Its easy to complain and voice your views (on this great website!) but doing things is what really counts.
There is a large Tesco in Handforth already and a Sainsbury's/Tesco Express in Wilmslow. The Somerfield on The Parade is handy but do we need another one?
The Parish Plan could help avoid such developments in the future if it is properly embraced. Undoubtedly, large companies like Tesco will still have the ability to appeal to higher authorities if CE were to fail to halt an application BUT if local people voice their opinion and a structure of local planning guide lines is in place, the powers that be will have to listen and take notice. The planning element of the Parish Plan is something that should be utilised and implemented.
The Parish Council is currently considering the content and viability of the plan. The draft is still available for viewing; with all its perceive failings. It is, however, a living, evolving document and as importantly, it is the only Parish Plan for Alderley Edge and it is YOUR Parish Plan.
‘Actions speak louder than words’.