Car park land to be sold off for new housing

The two car parks together have more than 550 spaces

Two council-owned car parks in a Cheshire town are to be reduced by almost half so housing can be built on sections of the land.

The two sites on Churchill Way and Duke Street in Macclesfield both have about 275 spaces and a recent study found there was enough capacity in the town centre for drivers to use other car parks.

The type of housing proposed for the sites has not been decided and there is no indication of how much the land could be sold for.

However, the outline proposals were approved at the council's economy and growth committee.

Under the plans, Churchill Way would be reduced from 276 spaces to 123, and Duke Street from 275 spaces to 105.

It follows a study by an external company into car parks in the town.

It has not been decided what kind of housing could fill the land

Under the plans, Churchill Way would be reduced from 276 spaces to 123, and Duke Street from 275 spaces to 105.

It follows a study by an external company into car parks in the town.

The study also recommended more signage pointing people to use the Jordangate multi-storey car park, alongside changes to the Grosvenor Centre multi-storey.

One resident, Sue Mason, said she had lived in Macclesfield for 75 years and wanted to raise her concerns.

"The report says that the study indicates the partial releases of both car parks should not result in significant negative impacts," she said.

"I emphasise those words as I'm an English teacher. 'Should not' is not the same as 'will not'. I would have liked to have seen 'will not' rather than 'should not'.

"Look at what the impact will be on traffic, on schools, on hospitals if we do sell off this land to build housing which this country needs."

'Eminently sensible'

Labour councillor Liz Braithwaite said parking both off and on street was "always an issue in the town".

"Regeneration is always welcome, however it must be appropriate, considerate and not have an impact on residents," she said.

The council's head of economic development, Dr Charles Jarvis, said permits for residents was one area being looked at.

However, Conservative Chris O'Leary said he had requested the report because of an "overprovision" of parking in Macclesfield.

He said the council had the option to "leverage" its assets, which was a "win-win" in terms of the area's housing targets and finances.

"This is an opportunity for us to actually do something that will benefit Macclesfield," he said.

Fellow Conservative Stewart Gardiner said developing the land and raising money for the council "seems to be eminently sensible".

Labour's Rob Vernon said it was "exactly the type of development" needed, because town centres had already "died".

"Retail ain't coming back, town centres have changed and the economy has changed, and town centre living is coming forward," he said.

The report was approved and the council will now consider the most appropriate forms of housing for the sites.