Plans to remodel and extend two prominent commercial blocks in Crewe to create 108 town-centre apartments have been recommended for approval by Cheshire East planning officers. The application from Packwood Ventures Ltd would see the existing three-storey block fronting Edleston Road and High Street increased to seven storeys and provide retail units at ground level.
What the scheme would deliver
The proposal would include:
- 108 one- and two-bedroom apartments across seven storeys;
- nine ground-floor retail units fronting Edleston Road;
- retention of part of the existing building fabric using a construction technique described by the applicant as TopHuis to limit carbon emissions.
Cheshire East’s planning officer notes the council cannot currently demonstrate a five-year housing land supply and therefore attaches significant weight to the contribution of 108 dwellings to the borough’s housing stock.
“The council cannot currently demonstrate a five-year housing land supply and the addition of 108 residential dwellings to the housing stock is afforded significant weight…”
Contested issues: affordable housing and parking
The application proposes no affordable housing, with the developer having submitted a viability assessment that the council accepts indicates the scheme cannot support affordable units. That omission is likely to remain a focus of scrutiny at committee.
Local concerns over parking have been raised by Crewe Town Council and several residents. The proposal includes only 24 parking spaces for the 108 flats. The planning report argues this is acceptable for a central location, citing car ownership patterns for city-centre apartments and an expectation that around 70% of occupiers would not own a car, with total car ownership forecast at roughly 40 vehicles.
| Element | Proposed |
|---|---|
| Apartments | 108 |
| Parking spaces | 24 |
| Retail units | 9 |
The site sits adjacent to the Crewe Youth Zone, currently being built on the former Oak Street car park. The planning report acknowledges potential noise implications from that neighbouring use but states the development would be acceptable in noise terms and that the Youth Zone is subject to a hours-of-use condition which should limit night-time disturbance.
Next steps and local impact
The scheme is due to be considered by the southern planning committee next week. Members will weigh the contribution to housing supply and town-centre regeneration against local objections on parking and the lack of affordable homes. If approved, the development would represent a substantial increase in central apartment supply and forms part of ongoing changes to Crewe’s town-centre fabric.
Residents and councillors interested in the decision should consult committee papers on the Cheshire East Council website for full documentation and any updates ahead of the meeting.
