Approval Granted for 108-Apartment Crewe Town Centre Redevelopment
Councillors backed plans to transform two commercial buildings into apartments, describing the scheme as a major opportunity to support Crewe's ongoing regeneration.
By Cheshire Live
Plans to transform two commercial buildings in Crewe town centre into a mixed-use development containing 108 apartments have been approved by Cheshire East's Southern Planning Committee.
The scheme will see Breeden House and Regency Court, located on the corner of Edleston Road and High Street, remodelled and extended to create an eight-storey building. The approved plans include 108 one and two-bedroom apartments on the upper floors, together with nine retail units at ground level facing Edleston Road.
The development is intended to bring vacant and underused buildings back into use while increasing the number of people living in the town centre, supporting local businesses and wider regeneration efforts.
No affordable housing will be provided as part of the scheme. Planning officers told councillors that an independent viability assessment concluded the development could not support an affordable housing contribution while remaining financially viable.
Members of the planning committee discussed several practical aspects of the proposal, including waste collection, parking and construction logistics. Questions were raised over the provision of just 24 parking spaces for more than 100 apartments, although officers noted that the site occupies a sustainable town centre location with access to public transport and local amenities.
Councillors also sought reassurance over how construction would be managed in the busy town centre. Planning officers confirmed that a construction management plan would be required before work begins to minimise disruption and address the movement of vehicles, materials and equipment.
During the meeting, councillors from across the committee welcomed the design and the potential benefits the project could bring to Crewe. Several members said the redevelopment would improve the appearance of a prominent gateway site while encouraging further investment in the town centre.
The application was approved after councillors agreed the regeneration benefits of the scheme outweighed the concerns raised during the debate.
Work is expected to begin once the remaining planning conditions have been discharged and the developer has finalised the construction programme.