88-home redevelopment at Land On New Street, Altrincham

What was proposed

The scheme would demolish the existing buildings and provide 24 houses, 64 apartments, access, parking, landscaping and associated works.

“108717/FUL/22 DEPARTURE: No Demolition of all existing buildings and structures and the redevelopment of the site for residential development (Use Class C3) comprising 24 dwelling houses and 64 apartments located within two apartment blocks (4-5 stories in height), with means of access, car parking, infrastructure, landscaping and associated works.”

“There are no listed buildings within the application site nor immediately adjacent to the site, the nearest listed buildings are located on Normans Place. The boundary of Altrincham Town Centre extends within two small areas of the site towards the northern end of the site and also a small area located to the south-east corner of the site.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The site is a residential estate with six apartment blocks, garages, conservation-area connections and access from New Street.

“The application site is located on the south side of New Street Altrincham and measures approximately 0.8ha in area. The site comprises 6x detached apartment blocks (circa. 1960s) grouped around three courtyards, Lloyds Court, Albert Court and Chapel Court. The two apartment blocks within Chapel Court are four stories in height the remaining four apartment blocks are all three stories in height.”

“A small area of the application site located towards the south-western corner of the site is located within the Down Conservation Area; the northern side of the site is adjacent to the Stamford New Road Conservation Area and Old Market Place Conservation Area. There are no listed buildings within the application nor immediately adjacent to the site, the nearest listed buildings are located on Normans Place.”

Officer report

Application changes

The application was redesigned after officer concerns, reducing the number of homes and retaining and enhancing New Street Green.

“The application was first submitted in August 2022 and following concerns over the initial proposal from officers in relation to loss of green space, viability, design, scale and massing as well as adverse heritage impacts the applicant has undertaken a significant redesign of the proposed development with updated plans and supporting information submitted and residents and consultees reconsulted in August 2024, with a further reconsultation undertaken in June 2025 the main…”

“- Provision of new area of public green fronting both the apartment blocks; - Proposal to remove 7 of the existing 17 on street parking spaces along New Street have now been dropped and an additional 2 parking spaces to be provided. - Two driveways omitted from the New Street boundary. - Amendments sought to proposed properties and landscaping.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the sustainable housing development and public benefits outweighed the parking shortfall and less-than-substantial heritage harm.

“The main adverse impacts of the scheme relate to a shortfall in the maximum car parking standards and the impact of the development on nearby heritage assets being found to be less than substantial with regards the scale of heritage harm.”

“Applying an unweighted balancing exercise, it is considered that the public benefits of the development would outweigh the adverse impacts, including the less than substantial heritage harm, and it is recommended that planning permission is granted, subject to appropriate conditions. The proposal is in accordance with the development plan as a whole, including policies within Places for Everyone, the Core Strategy, and the NPPF.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Council services and transport bodies generally raised no objections, while some consultees sought conditions, contributions or heritage and parking measures.

“Trafford Council Parking Services: - No comments received at time of report preparation.”

“When considering the impact of a proposed development on the significance of a designated heritage asset, great weight should be given to the asset’s conservation (and the more important the asset, the greater the weight should be). This is irrespective of whether any potential harm amounts to substantial harm, total loss or less than substantial harm to its significance (212; NPPF).”

Officer report

People who spoke

A former local MP and two councillors made representations about preserving New Street Green, reducing density, parking and highway safety.

The committee’s decision

Members were minded to grant permission, subject to completing a legal agreement and allowing minor condition amendments.

“RESOLVED: That Members are minded to grant planning permission for the development and that the determination of the application hereafter be deferred and delegated to the Head of Planning and Development as follows:-”

“(iv) That upon the satisfactory completion of the above Legal Agreement that planning permission be granted subject to the conditions now determined (unless amended by (ii) above) and with an amendment to the Travel Plan condition.”

Minutes

Legal agreement and next steps

The agreement would secure affordable housing, secondary education funding and parking-control measures before permission could be granted.

“The provision of 40% on-site affordable housing. • A financial contribution of £137,460.00 towards secondary education provision. • Traffic Regulation Order - A sum of up to £30,000.00 for associated review and implementation of parking control measures.”

Minutes