Plans to transformed the former site of a medical centre into five new family homes have been approved.
Trafford council’s planning committee voted unanimously to grant permission to developers Quinta Group to create one four bedroom and four three-bedroom homes on the St Johns Medical Centre site in Altrincham.
The plans will include basements in each of the five properties, which could also be used as an extra bedroom.
St Johns Medical practice recently moved to new premises in Altrincham town centre at the Altrincham health and wellbeing centre after it vacated its previous residence at St Johns Road in the Downs Conservation area.
The plans for the site include building single and two storey side and rear extensions; adding a basement and replacing the building’s rear dormers; demolishing the existing side extensions and outbuilding; making changes to the building’s roof; adding in windows on the front of the building; and building a car port behind the building.
While there are currently 30 car parking spaces at the old centre, after the building work is done, the expectation is there will be 10 car parking spaces and six bicycle storage spaces on site.
Coun Dan Jerrome of the Green Party called for more cycle storage spaces on site during last night’s committee meeting.
The developers have agreed to salvage stone to reuse it on site during the build wherever possible.
The original building dates from the 1800s and was originally used as a school, then became a medical centre in the 1980s.
The building sits on the same site as the Grade II listed Church of St John the Evangelist, built between 1865-6 and designed by J. Medland Taylor which itself was converted into homes in the 1980s.
Some residents wrote letters of objection to the council ahead of last night’s meeting.
One resident said: “I am concerned that this application will not only affect the privacy and enjoyment of several neighbouring properties, including my own, but it will harmfully affect the Conservation Area.”
Coun Morgan of the Conservative group dismissed fears of a lack of green space as well as parking on site and a perceived issue with over development there.
He and all other councillors on the planning committee voted in favour of the proposals, along with officers’ recommendations.
