Crewe town centre scheme for 108 apartments recommended for approval
A major redevelopment of Breeden House and Regency Court in Crewe town centre has been recommended for approval, with plans to create 108 apartments and new retail units despite co
By Chester Standard
A major town centre regeneration scheme that would deliver 108 new apartments in Crewe has been recommended for approval by Cheshire East Council’s planning officers.
The application, submitted by Packwood Ventures Ltd, proposes the redevelopment of Breeden House and Regency Court on Edleston Road. The existing three-storey buildings would be remodelled and extended to create a seven-storey mixed-use development, incorporating 108 apartments above nine ground-floor retail units.
Planning officers have concluded that the proposal would make a significant contribution to housing delivery at a time when Cheshire East Council is unable to demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable housing land. The report states that the additional homes carry substantial weight in favour of the application.
The development would not include any affordable housing. A viability assessment submitted by the applicant concluded that the cost of redeveloping the site means the scheme could not support an affordable housing contribution while remaining financially viable.
The proposal also seeks to reuse parts of the existing structure through a construction system known as TopHuis. According to the planning documents, retaining elements of the current buildings would reduce demolition waste and lower the carbon emissions associated with construction.
The site occupies a prominent position in Crewe town centre and sits close to the new Crewe Youth Zone, which is currently being built on the former Oak Street car park as part of wider regeneration plans for the area.
Parking has emerged as one of the main issues raised during the planning process. The scheme includes 24 parking spaces, prompting objections from Crewe Town Council and local residents, who argue this would be insufficient for a development of this size.
However, planning officers consider the level of parking to be acceptable given the site’s town centre location. Their report notes that car ownership among residents living in central Crewe is relatively low and estimates that around 70% of future occupants are unlikely to own a vehicle. The development is also within walking distance of shops, services, Crewe railway station and public transport links.
If approved, the scheme would bring a long-vacant town centre site back into active use while increasing the number of people living in the centre of Crewe. New residents could also provide additional footfall for surrounding businesses and the proposed retail units at ground-floor level.
The application is due to be considered by Cheshire East Council’s Southern Planning Committee on Wednesday, 29 July, at Delamere House in Crewe. Councillors will decide whether to approve the development after considering the planning officer’s recommendation, public representations and the relevant planning policies.