ONE of Wilmslow’s biggest employers is looking to make its current home as attractive as possible for new firms before heading to Alderley Park.

Cheshire East Council granted Royal London planning permission for new offices at its Alderley Road campus in July 2016, with the intention of using those facilities for its own employees.

But in October 2017, Royal London announced it would move to Alderley Park, and the company now wants fresh planning permission to make sure new offices on the site are suitable for new businesses to open their doors.

In a statement submitted to CEC, Avison Young, on behalf of Royal London, said: “Royal London’s relocation to Alderley Park means that some 1,200 high-skilled jobs will stay in Cheshire East, with the potential to generate more employment opportunities through growth at Alderley Park as well as other development proposals at its current base in Wilmslow following its move.

“There is strong occupational demand from both local and regional businesses for Grade A, high specification, efficient new-build office accommodation at Wilmslow.

“There is a distinct lack of available office space within the town and wider surrounding area.

“The extant reserved matters planning consent is bespoke to a single occupier and does not meet the current occupational demand for smaller, individual self-contained units.”

Royal London is set to complete its switch from Alderley Road to Alderley Park next year.

The firm unveiled a masterplan to create a ‘living campus’ at its Alderley Road site in 2017, and in the same year, the land was taken out of the green belt by CEC.

The new planning application is for up to 17,000sq m of office space, made up of smaller units, plus parking for up to 1,100 cars, improved footpaths and cycleways, and enhanced landscaping surrounding the site.

Avison Young added: “The application is necessary to respond to the relocation of Royal London from the site in 2020 and reflects local market demand and conditions.

“Its approval is crucial to the delivery of the Royal London ‘living campus’, and specifically employment development on land to the east of the existing campus, for which there is local demand for a scheme suitable for multi-occupation.

“The proposals represent sustainable development and would provide significant benefits to both Wilmslow and Cheshire East.”

Up to 180 homes will be also built as part of the wider masterplan, after CEC granted planning permission for two developments at the site last March.

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Residents can comment on the office space plans until Thursday, September 12, and CEC hopes to make a decision later this autumn.

Search for ‘19/3420M’ on CEC’s planning website to see the plans.