A planning application to replace the Royal Oak public house with 4 semi detached and 2 detached houses has been withdrawn.
Application 10/4529M was submitted in January 2011, by Stephen Price at Riverlodge Properties who took over the lease as a family business in 2005.
Apparently trade at the Royal Oak has declined dramatically over recent years. The pub has been let to a tenant on a low rent in order to have the property occupied but the business is no longer economically viable.
Alderley Edge Parish Council recommended refusal of this recent application because they felt it would be an "over development of the site." They raised concerns regarding the height of proposed properties and their impact on the adjacent properties, stating that the drawings do not appear to show at what height the proposed properties are planned to be built.
The Parish Council also questioned what impact the development would have on the water table of the adjacent area because no statement was included in the application regarding how the water culvert running through the site will be catered for.
A number of local residents wrote to Cheshire East to object to the application, issues raised included; Plot 5 having an overbearing effect on the neighbouring property, a complete lack of information regarding the fate of the former bowling green and that "there is no need for further housing development in the village."
Whilst others were very much in favour of the plans. One resident of Heyes Lane said "I am pleased to hear about the planning for the Royal Oak this will hopefully reduce the noise outside the pub at night", whilst another said "I would welcome the decrease in traffic and quieter streets during the evening which I believe this planning application will allow.
"It is a shame to say times have moved on for the Royal Oak however the Drum and Monkey provides a "locals" pub and the high street provides a more than ample amount of restaurants and licensed premises. I urge the council to accept this application."
A previous application to convert the Royal Oak in to 8 apartments and build an additional 16 apartments was refused. This scheme included the former bowling green and an appeal of this decision was dismissed in 2004 because of the "substantial loss in the quantity of recreational space as a result of the proposal". In this most recent application the former bowling green would remain as it is now.
Unfortunately we have not able to obtain a comment from the agent, Emery Planning Partnership Ltd, as to why the planning application was withdrawn and whether they intend to submit revised plans.
The planning application, reference 10/4529M, can be viewed at the Cheshire East Council planning portal.
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