REVISED plans have been submitted for a retirement complex at Alderley Park – seven months after a similar scheme was refused.

Cheshire East turned down an application in March for a single integrated retirement community with 159 extra care units and associated healthcare and amenity facilities at Heatherley Wood, Nether Alderley.

The council’s strategic planning board said it was inappropriate development in the green belt; over-development of the site; its size, scale and mass would result in a loss of amenity for neighbouring properties; and there was insufficient provision for affordable housing.

Now Symphony Park Holdings Ltd and Alderley Park Ltd have submitted a revised application for the site for 139 extra care units with associated healthcare, wellbeing, support and amenity facilities.

Knutsford Guardian: Alderley ParkAlderley Park (Image: Google)The design and access statement submitted on behalf of the applicant, states: “Following the refusal of the previous application, a significant redesign has been undertaken to respond to the concerns of the committee and to address the reasons for refusal, resulting in this revised full planning application submission.”

The 1.67 hectare site is located within the Alderley Park estate - a world class research and development and office campus, with a residential quarter, sports and community facilities.

This latest application is for the construction of an integrated retirement community with 19 one-bed, 99 two-bed and 21 three-bed apartments, within a group of buildings of varying height ranging from two to six storeys.

It will include a central amenity hub accommodating a range of facilities including restaurant and bar; activity rooms, library and meeting rooms; wellness spa, gymnasium and swimming pool; treatment rooms and salon; on-site medical centre and administration and staff facilities.

At the time of writing, five local residents have opposed the scheme. Among their objections are claims the scheme proposes a massive over-development of the site and fears it will impact detrimentally on the privacy of the residents of Morris Drive whose bedrooms, they say, will be looked directly into from properties in the new home.

The application, number 23/3619M, can be viewed on the planning portal on Cheshire East Council’s website.

The last date for comments from members of the public is November 1, 2023.