Plans for PizzaExpress to open in Alderley

by Lisa Reeves

Monday 13^th February 2012

Mon 13^th Feb 2012

A planning application has been submitted for change of use of a former off-license and book makers to enable PizzaExpress to open a restaurant in the village.

The application for the building sited at the junction of London Road and Stevens Street proposes a change of use of the ground floor from retail (class A1) to restaurant (class A3).

Alterations include a new shop front facing London Road and opening up of the shop front facing Stevens Street. Plans also include the provision of traditional 'cart doors' within the existing archway and a two storey rear extension for which planning permission has already been granted.

The proposed operating hours for PizzaExpress will be between 11am and midnight seven days a week.

The dining area will cover 192 square metres with seating for up to 100 customers. The entrance to the restaurant will be at the corner of the two streets with storage, staff facilities and customer toilets located at the rear.

Access to the upper floor offices is provided by a rear staircase located at the side of No.7 Stevens Street, where the delivery area and refuse facilities for both the restaurant and offices will be located.

Higham & Co, who submitted the application on behalf of Perlada Properties and PizzaExpress, state in the design and access statement "The proposal involves the reuse of an existing building within Alderley Edge village centre, which is an entirely appropriate location for the intended restaurant and offices.

"The proposed extension is exactly the same size as that previously approved at the site and the proposals will upgrade the property and improve the appearance."

Once again I had heard that PizzaExpress were going to open a restaurant at the site, however, when I spoke with their PR team this morning I was told that whilst they would like to open in the village, they have nothing to confirm at the present time.

A spokesperson for PizzaExpress told me "We would love to be in Alderley Edge, it is definitely somewhere we want to go but we have nothing to confirm at the moment. Sometimes it takes us a while to find the right site but hopefully we will get there."

However, an hour later, having published an article, I received confirmation from Higham & Co that the application has been submitted on behalf of PizzaExpress.

Planning application 12/0137M can be viewed on the Cheshire East Council planning portal.

This article was updated ay 12.37pm to reflect the fact Higham & Co had sent a press release confirming that the application was on behalf of PizzaExpress.

Tags:: Perlada Properties, Planning Applications

Comments

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

Ricky Lee

Monday 13^th February 2012 at 12:25 pm

It's a shame, the village is becoming a street of restaurants and bars but I guess it's better than an empty shop.

I 'm not excited about Pizza Express, there's already one in Wilmslow. I would prefer to see something different and not a chain!

Liz Callaghan

Monday 13^th February 2012 at 8:13 pm

NOOOOOOO!!!!

Kate Branagan

Monday 13^th February 2012 at 9:54 pm

Yes we need to fill empty shops but ANOTHER restaurant. We really do not need pizza express.........

Sarah Lane

Tuesday 14^th February 2012 at 8:34 am

It has to be better than an empty shop and the restaurants do bring in lots of business. The trouble is for a really independant shop to do well and make a good living for the owners the rent and overheads are just to high. I would love to open a shop in Alderley village but I am afraid the costs scare me to much to take the risk. It would be a never ending worry.

Chris Stock

Tuesday 14^th February 2012 at 11:09 am

Surprised no-one has mentioned the 'p' word yet. Where are 'up to 100 customers' going to park? They won't all be local and/or pedestrian. On a seperate note, I really hope the food and service is going to be substantially better than the Wilmslow franchise. I can't see the discerning diners of Alderley Edge accepting a substandard product when there is so much choice, although I suspect it will quickly become the hangout of choice of local youth...and their iPods.

Mike Norbury

Tuesday 14^th February 2012 at 2:15 pm

The one in Wilmslow should be close enough. I fail to see the point of another 2 miles away. London Rd's getting a bit over faced with eateries.

Helen Owen

Tuesday 14^th February 2012 at 4:14 pm

I agree that it's a shame to have yet another restaurant in the village and would much prefer to see an independent retailer... especially a nice clothes shop offering a reasonably priced, good quality range, like the wonderful Blue Lagoon did. However, such a shop requires strong support from local residents and it would appear that the majority prefer dining in the village to anything else. By the time No.15's replacement and this P.E are finished, people will be able to eat in a different restaurant every night of the week... within a quarter-mile walk!

Tuesday 14^th February 2012 at 4:54 pm

I personally think that some shops that have come and gone have had this idea that all the people of Alderley Edge are uber rich and will happily pay OTT prices for everyday things. Yes of course there are plenty that might be uber rich and will happily pay a high price for an item of clothing for themselves of their child/children but they tend to go elsewhere where there is more choice. The more 'every day' person wants a more sensible price.

I also think and would like to see Alderley benefit from a good quality but affordable clothes shop, maybe even children's shoes and clothes but at a sensible price, not the usual £130 for a childs coat type shop.

Thing is who could actually afford to open such a shop.

David Hadfield

Tuesday 14^th February 2012 at 5:33 pm

Great to see something happening to the old Wine Rack eyesore site at last. After two years of it being empty at least something is being done.
Good luck to the new Pizza Express ...................
It's a jungle out there and the strongest will survive !
If the Alderley residents support it, it'll survive.

Kelvin Briggs

Tuesday 14^th February 2012 at 6:13 pm

Good luck to Pizza Express for showing faith and investing in Alderley Edge. I believe it will do very well and richen the village eating options. Much better that the second rate off licence that preceeded it on this site. Filling an empty premises has to be a plus.

Paul Beaumont

Tuesday 14^th February 2012 at 9:49 pm

Great to have a family friendly restaurant in the village......
Not sure why many so people moan about another restaurant, can`t image these people are putting themselves or their cash forward to open a retail outlet in the village. This building has been empty for years, Perlada and Pizza Express are probably going to invest more than £1m+ upgrading the existing buildings then create 20+ jobs in the restaurant and 20+ jobs in the offices above, all new jobs for local people. If the village prospers with restaurants then thats a good thing, old style village shopping died years ago. Ten minutes drive away we have a choice of superstores and we all have internet shopping at home, so give the restuarants and bars a chance to revive our high street.

Louise Mason

Tuesday 14^th February 2012 at 10:55 pm

I feel like the village has some new energy and in a time of recession it's great news!

Steve Savage

Wednesday 15^th February 2012 at 8:58 am

People need to remove the rose tinted glasses and realise that a return to an "olde worlde" village with traditional independent retailers quite obviously isn't what the local populace want or need. If it was, they wouldn't all have sold up/gone bump in the past. Another empty shop has a new tenant.....good news.

Clare Booth

Wednesday 15^th February 2012 at 1:04 pm

It may be another restaurant but I agree its better to have a thriving village rather than empty unkept shops. It would be lovely to have independant retailers that are not restaurants popping up but Alderley Edge is an expensive area and taking the risk of starting up with very high overheads is not for the faint hearted or people without deep pockets. It shows that these sorts of investors are generally not willing to start up here, otherwise we wouldn't have so many empty shops.. However these larger companies can withstand these costs to get a business going which generally independants cant. Again investment in our village and the creation of local jobs is a luxury in this economic climate that we probably cant afford to knock down. Good luck to Pizza Express. Whether you like them or not I think they will do very well here.

Dave Clarke

Wednesday 15^th February 2012 at 5:28 pm

Clare I agree better PizzaExpress than the unit remaining empty any longer. It's not everyone's first choice but it's something that will be vibrant, create jobs, etc, etc.

Brian Etchells

Saturday 18^th February 2012 at 10:47 am

Oh.come on, Alderley Edge can be better than Nando's and Gregg's. how about Marks and Spencer Simply Food and Pattisserie Valerie or cafe Concerto.

Seriously, I for one think that Pizza Express is a welcome change to our some of our overpiced restaurants in the village. the days of an "olde worlde" village. yee Olde Alderle have sadly long gone. I will be joining the younger generation in pizza express (hopefully with better service and slightly quieter than wilmslow)

Will they be having yet another terrace with patio heaters on the pavement? Will I further enjoy the spectacle of people sitting on London Road in the pouring rain?

Cassie Redfern

Friday 24^th February 2012 at 10:07 am

Makes a refreshing change to see there there is less whining than there might have been in days gone by about 'another chain'. The rents in the village are too ridiculous for independents, so franchises are better placed to suck it up until they get going. Obviously there will be another pavement decking arrangement for the provincial gliteratti to sit out on and breath in all of that lovely carbon monoxide from passing vehicles.

Martin Reeves

Friday 24^th February 2012 at 10:15 am

Would be great to see that empty unit back in use and great to have another child-friendly restaurant in the village. As expressed by some other people above I do hope that the service is better than that which we have often experienced in the consistently under staffed Wilmslow PizzaExpress.

Paul Trevorrow

Tuesday 3^rd April 2012 at 10:15 pm

Can Alderley Edge sustain another restaurant? Still one less empty unit is a blessing I suppose. I'll certainly use it over the one in Wilmslow, it's appalling yet for some reason we all seam to keep going back!