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68-bed hotel will transform Waters Green

Chris Hudson
16/ 4/2008

MACCLESFIELD is to get a £3.5million, 68-bed hotel – and a £105,000 cash injection to breathe new life into gloomy Waters Green.

Councillors have given the green light for developers to transform 104-year-old Castle House, opposite Macclesfield Railway Station, into a brand-new Travelodge with 10,000 sq ft of office space.

The project, which will start this July and finish next summer, is set to bring between 50 and 100 jobs into the area as well as making safe the Silk Road pedestrian underpass with £35,000-worth of lighting and CCTV cameras.

For their part, developers will also pay £70,000 to rejuvenate the surrounding parks.

The blueprints met with resounding approval from Macclesfield Borough councillors who welcomed the scheme as a much-needed facelift for Waters Green.

Speaking at a MBC planning committee meeting, ward councillor Richard Watson said: "This is a landmark building and an important application; a very serious proposal on this site that would make a significant difference to the area."

Prestbury councillor, Thelma Jackson agreed. She said: "It would encourage the enhancement with new lighting, it will stop the undesirables congregating in the underpass. It is quite a nice area if used properly."

The major sticking point for the planning committee and residents – who signed a 100-signature petition against the proposal – is car parking in the area as they fear a shortage at Macclesfield Railway Station and its surrounding area.

Coun Watson said: "Parking is a serious issue which has to be addressed somehow and over the last few years Macclesfield train station car park has seen a significant increase in usage."

The fears were assuaged by Mike Gibson, director of developers Taylor Young. He said: "This project is to discourage the use of the private car and planning officers were saying that you will not need car parking there. It will make a significant contribution to the regeneration of the town."

Developers will retain the original building, which started life as the Royal Silk Warehouse in 1904, and pay £70,000 to MBC’s Leisure Services to improve the surrounding parks.

Another £35,000 "public realm" money will be spent on improving the underpass in association with MBC and Cheshire Police, with councillors putting several more stipulations on the approval including waste collection at the front of the building and a travel plan for workers to car-share.

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