A housing developer wants to turn the former B&M store in Nantwich town centre into 20 new apartments.
A planning application has been submitted by Mr Anshul Raja of Apavi Group Holdings for a change of use for the Swine Market building.
It would see 20 new self-contained apartments with cycle and bin storage.
DRK Planning, acting on behalf of the applicant, said apartments would be partly on the ground floor as well as all the first floor, comprising eight x 1 bedroom 1 person flats, seven x 1-bed 2-person flats, and 5 x 2-bed 3 person flats.
The plans show there would be still be room on the ground floor for a retail unit fronting on to Swine Market.
In conclusion, they said: “The existing building proposed to be subject to this application has a lawful Class E use and, subject to appropriate mitigation to be secured by condition, the proposed change of
use presents no transport and highways, conservation area, contamination, noise, flood risk, or natural daylight concerns.
“Therefore, we ask that this application should be granted subject to such planning conditions as the Council considers appropriate.”
Plans have been posted on Cheshire East Council website and local councillors informed of the plans, which are likely to be discussed at the next Nantwich Town Council meeting.
Members of the public have until July 16 to submit their views on the proposals.
I was not talking about holidaying. I was talking about the impact of half a million immigrants from the UK in Spain and their way of “integrating”.
The Spanish also talk about how these areas become a hotbed for crime.
The simple matter is, it does not matter where you are from. Anyone who can choose to live somewhere else they believe to be better, will do so. Regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality etc. And in most circumstances, these groups of immigrants (of all kinds) do a terrible job of integrating because it is against human nature. So let’s not villify some over others because certain parts of our press and political spectrum give us licence to do so.
Where to start with this one?
How on God’s green earth are you conflating holidaying, working class brits with illeagle undocumented economic migrant men for the middle East?
Crime rates have increased where these young men are housed especially sex crimes, and crimes towards women and children.
I’m not really interested in how you ‘Big Tony’, spend your holidays, it sounds terrible, but your choice.
I’m not really interested in tbe outcome of housing in the UK anymore, I’ve given up, stopped paying tax, and I’m lucky enough to be able to travel. We voted since the late 1990’s for people who promised to address this, but they ignored us.
They might be McCarthy Stone apartments for all we know, although, I’m pretty sure that dear Angela Growler (sorry Rayner) will somehow find a place locally for the illeagles soon.
Anyway good luck with it, I’m sure that the battle will continue between the patriots & the ‘let’s vote ourselves into extinction’ liberal left.
I’m past caring, bring back Woolworths.
Is Nantwich farmer a parody account?
You’re right to be fair. Immigration done properly is to invade a Spanish costa setting up countless pubs and greasy spoons with no regard for learning the local language whilst importing violence, obesity and binge drinking. Rule Britannia.
It would be an ideal spot for illegal immigrants. Single unvetted males from the Middle East who have travelled through war-torn countries like Italy, Germany, & France, etc. Centre of town, near the 5 Turkish barbers, Chinese nail bars, charity shops and a taxi rank. Absolutely ideal. I’m all for it.
Once again, people wanting to create homes but with no interest in who this may attract. Right in the centre of town. Who will actually want to buy one. No one and then they will be turned into affordable housing and attract druggies and drop outs. Create smaller retail units from the space with a central walk way or to be honest develop it into a more attractive space and demolish the whole lot. This whole area is ugly and dated and needs a proper face lift. Ugliest part of town.
Comments regarding this building not being suitable for housing but want it to stay as a shop have got their wires crossed, the store is far too big to warrant such a large store now, but will be mixed use, apartments and two to three smaller retail units on the ground floor. The building itself dates from the 1960’s long before the joys of ordering stock on line, the space for the apartments being proposed would have been stock store rooms, nowadays that idea is laughable, no company wants to tie up stock ie money in a store room, its delivered and is on the shelves immediately these days.
Many other companies have the same idea, Sainsburys have apartments over some of their new stores, its a growing trend, after all why waste attic space when you could put the area to perfect use.
As for housing immigrants, that isn’t going to happen ever, can you imagine the costs involved? if hotels are being phased out as expensive lodgings, just how do you suppose brand new apartments are going to enter the mix? it is illogical.
I challenge any of you to look at all the current shops in town now, is the mix really that good, as good as Tarporley for example? there are many duplicate businesses charity shops, nail bars, hairdressers, cafes, barbers, estate agents, public houses, just where are the everyday essentials of butchers, greengrocers, food stores, deli’s in the centre of town now? there are none, so hopefully the new retail units will actually house every day items, a comforting trend now is we have a great electrical store in town, an actual quality furniture store, and an amazing artisan bakery for a refreshing change from all the cafes popping up, then moving on. Life changes and more importantly where are your suggestions then?
Luke. Wake up? Disgusting? Do you live in some parallel universe where news is never broadcast?
Truly an essay on Newspeak and ThoughtCrime.
To those “not in my town” people who seem to be terrified of asylum seekers, and completely oblivious to the fact that their previous reform politicians were once Tory politicians who themselves, oversaw a massive increase in illegal border crossings in 2022, 2023 and the first part of 2024. What are you so worried about? Do you really not understand that you’re being brainwashed to blame the immigrants for any problems you may have? It’s pathetic. It truly is. The problem we have in this country is not the immigrants. The don’t cause you to be poorer. They have no effect on your life. They’re not the ones on the bikes needlessly causing trouble in the town centre. They’re not the people with three range rovers that have had their tax cut whilst people on the average living wage struggle to buy bread in the few days before payday. Your precious reform will come to power banging on about how they’ll stop the crossings. And you know what, they might reduce it. They might send people who have been literally living in tents because they needed to escape war, back to war. But it won’t affect the bottom line. It’s all a smokescreen. They’ll be lining the pockets of their friends like all the rich corrupt politicians before them. Your mate Farage made millions convincing you it was the immigrants fault before Brexit. Look how that’s turned out eh? He’s doing it again and you’re blind. All the politicians are the same too. They don’t care about the everyday Joe. They only care about their own pockets or agenda. Honestly, wake up. It’s disgusting.
The layout and application are not for an HMO. It appears to be a mixed development rather than just a collection of one-bedroom units. If the intention were to accommodate migrants exclusively, this configuration wouldn’t make sense as a project.
I understand your point, Kev, but no one has shown any serious interest in your idyllic vision for over two years. The site can’t just remain empty indefinitely. I don’t think it’s fair to blame a developer who has taken the initiative and will be investing hundreds of thousands into a property that has otherwise been overlooked and neglected for so long.
Let’s not let perfect get in the way of better…
Kev, not easy attracting a big name store to Nantwich, there is a lot of money involved in refurbishing a store, the writing was on the wall for larger stores in 2020 when I myself closed my store of a larger size than this to convert into high end housing with a gym, film rooms, cafe laundry and managed services within the block It will work well providing it is not done on the cheap, an architect is involved to ensure quality delivery. That was in another town some 18yrs ago, the tenants love it and I feel it is the right way to go, nothing like an HMO and certainly the rent needs to be set to appeal to the professional tenant who is looking for more than a basic anonymous lifestyle in a block of small apartments
Very righteous, Gary, but missing the point(s). We need to hit the problem at source, to attract investment for intended use, rather than allow a cheap change which will only serve to dilute it further.
Sat empty for two years with nobody wanting to rent it. Mostly because fellow locals talk a big game on these forums about protecting their high street but buy from Amazon etc.
Also which lovely local businesses are we talking about? UK citizen retail entrepreneurship has been in decline for decades. Well before we could blame immigrants for it.
Anyway, all of that feels uncomfortable and self-reflective, so let’s blame someone else.
Pips, I couldn’t agree more…this whole block, from the bridge towards The Malbank pub, is a carbuncle of an eyesore, and should never have been built to its current facade, and is now worse than ever. Should be demolished and rebuilt…if an appropriate backer can be found.
Illegal immigrants are not welcome, and I for one am not afraid to make that clear, on here, and when they come, as they will, as the authorities continue to fail us, until Reform UK is empowered.
Planning put forward by someone with absolutely no interest in the town I’m proud to call home, and will more than likely be approved by people with equal amount of interest in the town.
MUST be stopped
Just doesn’t make sense to turn majority of the space into apartments. Nantwich town centre, needs shops, not housing.
DO HOPE THE COUNCILLORS SEE COMMON SENSE. If only.
The problem is that nobody wants it for retail use. This isn’t surprising as people increasingly shop online rather than come shopping in town. It is a trend that is only going to increase over time and we need to get used to it. Moaning that things don’t stay the same is self defeating.
No doubt the plans will be passed by a faceless planning committee made up of Non Nantwich Resident’s. Only a matter of time before Nantwich Town Centre looks like West St and Edleston Road in Crewe.
This is the last thing Nantwich needs, bedsit land! If this gets approved it could potentially open the floodgates for any vacant premises to be turned into a HMO. Look at Crewe and the buildings turned into bedsits, we need our town to be attractive to visitors with independent retail shops not a town where people are afraid to walk through.
I bet the developer is already looking at the Nat West Bank thinking how many they can cram in there!
This can change the future of our town so object to any HMO development.
No doubt such developments in Nantwich and elsewhere, length and breadth of the Country, will be encouraged at all costs by the Govt to meet the ever rising demand from prospective occupiers from across the Channel?….
Roll on REFORM!!!!🙏
I cant see any overlap with the Local Plan Strategy for this development.
Here are the words from CE’s own website on LPS47 – Snow Hill. This is the strongest defence for objections I suspect.
Site LPS 47
Snow Hill, Nantwich
The development of Snow Hill over the Local Plan Strategy period will be achieved through:
1. The comprehensive mixed use regeneration of this important site to strengthen and enhance
the existing town centre and take advantage of its location next to the River Weaver. The
site is suitable for a number of uses including:
i. Retail, including opportunities for small, independent retailers;
ii. Leisure and sports facilities;
iii. Offices;
iv. Hotel including a conference venue;
v. Parking;
vi. Housing; and
vii. Bars and cafés.
2. The provision of high quality design is of paramount importance, as this site includes
numerous listed buildings, a listed structure and lies partly within the Nantwich Conservation
Area. Development should have regard to the need to conserve and enhance and have a
positive impact upon the character and appearance of the listed buildings and conservation
area, including their settings. Development should also have regard to the proposals of the
Nantwich Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Strategy (17/12/12), including the
impact of proposals on Local List candidates that lie within or adjacent to this site.
Site Specific Principles of Development
a. A design framework including a masterplan which ensures that the site is seen as being
part of the town centre, by the creation of strong links between Snow Hill and the existing
town centre; the establishment of active new frontages; high quality urban design; clear
and easy to use pedestrian and cycle routes, both throughout the site and between the site
and the town centre and to facilitate a radical improvement to the environmental quality of
Swinemarket.
b. Retail provision to include small units, to ensure opportunities are given to independent
retailers as well as adding to and complementing the existing retailing and leisure offer of
the town.
CHESHIRE EAST LOCAL PLAN Strategy 2010-2030 335Local Plan Strategy Sites and Strategic Locations
c. Improvements to existing and the provision of new pedestrian and cycle links to the town
centre and new and existing residential areas, employment areas, shops, education and
health facilities.
d. Maintain, as far as possible, car parking levels in the town centre.
e. Sensitively expand the area to the west of the river to support the mix of uses along Welsh
Row.
f. Incorporation and retention of the swimming baths within the overall design for the site.
g. Incorporation of green infrastructure, including:
i. An extension of the riverside park between Reaseheath College and the town centre
(on both sides of the river), including both the floodplain and the valley shoulder, with
substantial native woodland tree planting and a wetland landscape buffer zone, with
public access, including formal footpaths and cycleways to improve levels of access
to the River Weaver and its banks;
ii. Open space provision.
h. Create a series of interconnected, attractive streets and spaces.
i. The design of new buildings to be of a very high standard, reflecting the site’s location within
and adjacent to the Nantwich Conservation Area.
j. This area is within an area of archaeological potential and an area of special archaeological
potential which included nationally-important waterlogged archaeological deposits. A desk
based archaeological assessment and a pre-determination evaluation will be required, with
further work and mitigation being carried out as appropriate to preserve the archaeological
value of Snow Hill.
k. On site provision, or where appropriate, relevant contributions towards highways and
transport, education, health, green infrastructure, open space and community facilities.
l. Improvement to Waterlode / Welsh Row junction.
m. Deliver a distinctive destination for local people to be proud of and visitors to enjoy.
n. Proposals should consider impacts of development on the listed ‘Nantwich Bridge’ and its
setting.
o. Proposals should include an assessment of the contribution the area makes to the
conservation area, including views of the conservation area.
p. A minimum of a Phase 1 Preliminary Risk Assessment for contaminated land should be
carried out to demonstrate that the site is, or could be made, suitable for use should it be
found to be contaminated. Further work, including a site investigation, may be required at
a pre-planning stage, depending on the nature of the part of the site concerned.
q. New development will be expected to respect any flooding constraints on the site and where
necessary provide appropriate mitigation.
r. Retention of the floodplain of the River Weaver; a large area of the site lies within the
floodplain of the River Weaver which needs to be protected from development.
s. Development proposals will be required to demonstrate that they will conserve and enhance
the character and appearance of the listed buildings, listed structure and conservation area,
including their settings and also show how regard has been paid to the impact of development
proposals on the heritage of the town.
t. Development on the site should provide compensatory habitat for any protected and priority
species and habitats on the site.
Nesta. Understand your reasoning that we need to continue to make Nantwich vibrant long after the shops have closed. But with the recent parking charges until 10pm and on Sundays might just kill the evening/ night time economy.
The fact there is no parking is clear, these intended occupants won’t have a car, probably no bike, but do come with other social issues best confined to areas where there is more help readily available for their needs. They certainly won’t be using the train and probably not the very poor underfunded bus service that locals desperately need.
We had great plans for the old gas work site which is now reverting back to a car park, but posher and not free to encourage visitors.
I agree with Pip. That whole area on one side of Swine Market is an eyesore, well intended but not in keeping with the rest of the town. There is an opportunity to bite the bullet in its rebuilding over a couple of years for a longer term solution. The area could provide a mixture of small shops to aid new business and independent traders, social open air spaces, restaurants and first / second floor affordable apartments.
I urge Nantwich council to reject this application and to open the wider enquiry about regeneration of this area. Put it to the people who put you in the represent them and who want the best for this town now and for generations to come. And prey Cheshire East don’t get involved any further in anyway.
Quite clear what market of tenant this targets !
The applicant is not even local.
Vote against please .
Charity shop are moving into the retail unit from an exsisting nantwich shop
For those of us who’ve lived in Nantwich for many years, the changes are obvious to see, but so far, the town has maintained it’s enviable and deserved reputation.
This development, though, has me worried. High density, low cost living with little infrastructure is going to be so difficult to integrate successfully, and I have a horrible feeling we may also become part of the government’s thinly-veiled dispersal plan.
So basically its to become an HMO to house we know what, God hep the town.
Appropriate place for residential units in an old store? Where do people park their cars? No provision for that.
It would be much better to knock down that whole arcade of an eyesore that fronts on to Swine Market and start again rather than bodge fit some bedsit apartments into an existing retail space. That way the whole venture can be planned properly to include retail and accommodation units in juxtaposition. Forward thinking is what is required. I wont hold my breath.
Don’t think it’s the right use for this building, it was built for retail not housing, and on the plan it looks like they are extremely small with little or no natural light
And who exactly are these “Apartments”
Aimed at ?
The writing was on the wall some 20 yrs ago when I sold my shop, the rise in council taxes, wages, staff and overheads cannot now be sustainable, with online shopping more small shops that specialise would be better and we need people living in the town centre to use the existing businesses and keep the town vibrant longer than opening hours. The fact there is no parking isn’t an issue as there are bus service passing hourly and a station close by