TURQUOISE has been given the go ahead by Cheshire East Council to open a café and retail shop in Alderley Edge.

The independent company, which already has restaurants and a deli/café in Bramhall and Cheadle, plans to open up on London Road, despite objections from some nearby residents.

Bramhall Gourmet had applied to the council for permission for a change of use at 67 London Road from retail shop to mixed use comprising a retail shop and café (A1/A3) – but planning officer Paul Wakefield told the northern planning committee that, because of planning law changes, the premises no longer needed a change of use permission.

The application also included a ground floor extension at the back of the property together with kitchen extraction equipment and the installation of a fixed structure to accommodate external seating to the front, which did need permission.

Cllr Craig Browne (Alderley Edge), speaking as a visiting councillor, said he had issues with what was planned for the rear of the property and how it would impact on nearby residents living on The Avenue.

Knutsford Guardian: Cllr Craig Browne (Cheshire East Council)Cllr Craig Browne (Cheshire East Council) (Image: Cheshire East Council)

He said the proposed air conditioning units needed to be moved or have some screening to deflect the noise.

“The proposed flue outlet is at bedroom window heights which is simply unacceptable,” said Cllr Browne.

He added all refuse should be collected from the front of the premises on London Road and not the back, as had been indicated by the applicant.

And he suggested opening hours should be from 8am to 8pm.

An objector who lives on The Avenue told the committee: “The odour report accepts there is a very high risk of odour and The Avenue is in direct line of fire.

“If granted we would have to experience a high risk of odour both inside and outside the house, particularly in the summer.”

She said the estimated noise level would increase from 25 decibels to 36.2, ‘a very significant increase’.

She added the proposed hours of 8am to midnight seven days a week ‘are equally unacceptable’.

“I'm sure none of you here today would want a commercial kitchen at the foot of your garden. Neither do we,” she said.

The applicant’s agent, John Suckley, said the principle of a mixed-use development comprising a retail shop and cafe is entirely acceptable at the premises.

“Furthermore, noise and odour assessments have been submitted in support of the application and, subject to the recommended mitigation, no objections are raised by the council's environmental health department,” said Mr Suckley.

He said the applicant could agree to some suggestions put forward by Cllr Browne but added: “We would require operation hours from 8am in the morning to 11pm at night which will be consistent with other café/restaurants that are open on London Road.”

Macclesfield councillor Nick Mannion said he believed the issue of opening times needed to be looked at and asked the council’s officers whether that was appropriate.

Mr Wakefield told him: “The existing building could open tomorrow with the use as proposed, with this mixed, restaurant café retail and operate for 24 hours a day because, as far as I’m aware, there 'sno existing limitations on the opening hours of that premises.”

Cllr Lesley Smetham (Gawsworth) moved the application be approved.

The committee unanimously approved the proposal with a number of conditions including an odour control scheme be implemented; noise mitigation to be implemented and maintained; the opening hours be restricted to 8am to 11pm and a waste management plan be provided.