THE Government has confirmed it is considering whether to overrule Cheshire East Council's decision to allow Memorial House to be knocked down.

It comes following an intervention by Tom Watson MP, deputy leader of the Labour Party, after he was contacted by Knutsford campaigner Charlotte Peters Rock.

CEC's northern planning committee approved plans to demolish the former cottage hospital, which was built as a war memorial in 1922, to make way for 46 retirement apartments earlier this month – despite a 4,248-name petition against the scheme and opposition from Knutsford Town Council.

But James Brokenshire MP, secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, is now set to decide whether to halt the development following a request to 'call in' the decision from Mr Watson.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: "The secretary of state is currently considering a request to call in the planning case at Memorial House, in Knutsford. A decision will be made in due course."

Developer McCarthy and Stone bought Memorial House off the British Red Cross in August 2017.

In a letter seen by the Guardian, Mr Watson told Mr Brokenshire that national planning policy should give weight to the conservation of heritage assets such as Memorial House.

He added: "It is clear and evident that this memorial hospital means a great deal to the local community, who have worked very hard over the last century to support and sustain it.

"They are understandably very distressed at the prospect of this memorial to their deceased forebears being demolished by developers and lost forever."

At last Thursday's CEC full council meeting, Charlotte said: "Knutsford and District War Memorial Neighbourhood Forum and thousands of CEC taxpayers have politely requested that this local authority should protect and help to preserve our community war memorial.

"I have approached both our MP – the right honourable Esther McVey – and also the Labour Party for help in retaining our war memorial in one piece for the community.

"If this war memorial is allowed to be demolished, every councillor here should hang their heads in shame on November 11 as they stand in front of memorials."