MARKS and Spencer could be sent back to the drawing board next week over plans to expand its store at Handforth Dean.

The retail giant submitted plans to expand its store two years ago before tweaking the plans last May – and Handforth Parish Council has not objected to the proposal.

But ahead of a strategic planning board meeting next Wednesday, Cheshire East Council’s planning officers are calling for the scheme to be refused.

In a report issued ahead of the meeting, officers say the development is ‘not considered to have a significant adverse impact’ on nearby town centres.

However, CEC says that M&S has failed to consider a number of alternative sites to Handforth Dean which the council would prefer – such as town centre or ‘edge-of-centre’ locations – meaning the proposal as it stands goes against the authority’s local plan.

Objections against the original plans were lodged by Peel Holdings, owners of Peel Shopping Centre in Stockport, and Eskmuir, owners of Grosvernor Shopping Centre in Macclesfield.

Both argued that the scheme would cause harm to their town centre developments, while Eskmuir wrote to CEC again last month.

Rhys Govier, associate at Savills writing on behalf of Eskmuir, said: “CEC has continuously considered Macclesfield town centre to be healthy, vital and viable.

“This interpretation has been consistently contested by Eskmuir and others who, given their own on the ground experience, have reiterated the fragility of the retail sector nationally, the flight of national retailers away from the town centre to out of centre developments, and the difficulties finding tenants for vacant space.”

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M&S says the expansion – which will create an additional 2,590sq m of floorspace and 51 extra parking spaces would ‘improve the borough’s retail offer’ and create 54 full time equivalent jobs in a ‘highly accessible and sustainable location’.

To view the plans search for ‘17/4497M’ on CEC’s planning website.