PLANS to demolish Memorial House to make way for a retirement home development are being opposed by Cheshire East Council’s conservation and design officer.

McCarthy and Stone Retirement Lifestyles is seeking planning approval to build nine one-bed and 37 two-bed apartments on the site in Northwich Road, Knutsford.

The scheme includes the creation of a new memorial garden to serve as a relocated war memorial following demolition of the former cottage hospital.

Memorial House is a neo-Georgian cottage hospital built in 1922 by Sir Percy Worthington and Francis Jones as a First World War memorial.

The retirement homes plans are opposed by Knutsford and District War Memorial Neighbourhood Forum, which presented a 4,000-name petition to Cheshire East Council as part of a campaign against the scheme.

The McCarthy and Stone scheme is also opposed by Cheshire East Council’s conservation and design officer, Emma Fairhurst, who said there was no indication that the building could not be retained and be brought up to modern standards and a new use.

Emma said she would welcome a revised scheme which would seek to retain the existing building.

She said: “The building is recognised as a building of local value and therefore as a non-designated heritage asset as defined in the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework).

“The significance of this building lies in its role as a memorial and that it was designed by the noteworthy Manchester architect Sir Percy Worthington, who completed more than a hundred projects; domestic, educational, ecclesiastical, and medical—and won many of his major commissions in competition. His work on hospitals was recognised as pioneering.

“A marble plaque which was located with the name plaques in the building is now fixed to the front of the building and reads – ‘This hospital was founded in memory of the gallant men from Knutsford and the surrounding district who gave their lives for King and Country in the Great War 1914 –1918. Their names are recorded on the tablet in this hall’.

“The NPPF stresses the desirability and importance of conserving the historic built environment and recognising that heritage assets are an irreplaceable resource and should be conserved in a manner appropriate to their significance.

“There is no indication the building cannot be retained and be brought up to modern standards and a new use - [at] my last visit early in 2017 the building was still in occupation by the Red Cross and appears to be in a good state of repair.

“The proposal includes the total loss of this locally important building which is considered to be unjustified.

“The harm caused to the building and to the character of the local area by the total loss of the non-designated asset is significant.

“I would welcome a revised scheme which would seek to retain the existing building and extend to the rear. As the application stands I do not support the application.”