Wilmslow Lodge at the Coach and Four set for expansion

Hyde’s Brewery is hoping to get the green light from Cheshire East Council to extend the Wilmslow Lodge accommodation block at the Coach and Four, in Alderley Road.

The firm says its 36 existing bedrooms are usually more than 90 per cent occupied, and that occupancy rate is expected to continue if the plans are approved, with a new total of 53 rooms.

Ahead of next Wednesday’s northern planning committee meeting, CEC officers are recommending the plans for approval.

A report published on Tuesday said: “It is considered that the proposal is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable.

“The site is located in a sustainable location within the settlement of Wilmslow and the proposal is considered to represent an efficient use of land.”

The move is backed by the recently-adopted Wilmslow neighbourhood plan, which has ‘strong support’ for hotel accommodation in the town centre.

Wilmslow Town Council has raised no objections to the proposal, and just one letter of objection was sent to CEC from a resident over a loss of privacy.

Just three new spaces will be provided at the car park, with Hyde’s suggesting many guests will be able to park for free at the nearby Sainsbury’s and Hoopers car parks between 6pm and 8am.

Wilmslow Civic Society said that while it supports the plans, it did have concerns that a precedent could be set for businesses encouraging visitors to use town car parks in this way, which would ‘undermine the very essence of planning control’.

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In its planning application, which was submitted back in 2018, Hyde's said: "This is a sustainable development in the town centre of Wilmslow that will help maintain and organically grow a successful business.

"As well as creating and sustaining jobs locally, the enlarged Wilmslow Lodge will also attract more people to use the varied facilities on offer in Wilmslow for both business and tourism."