AN application to build 44 apartments in Handforth has been called in for discussion by Cheshire East Council.

Adam Harrison, from Wilmslow Property Developments, hopes to demolish the former care home Cypress House, in South Acre Drive, and construct a new block of 23 one-bedroom flats and 21 two-bedroom apartments.

The application is the second made to CEC for the development, after an earlier plan was withdrawn in July, and it is expected to be discussed at the northern planning meeting on Wednesday, January 11.

Jay Ashall Partnership, working on behalf of Mr Harrison, state that CEC has previously issued a design brief for development on the site which advises it is suitable for 36 apartments over three storeys – eight less than the number being requested.

At a meeting last month, Handforth Parish Council recommended that planning permission for the development should be refused due to overdevelopment, and because it would not be “in keeping with the area”.

It said: “There is a lack of parking provision in this area and the development will only serve to exacerbate the problem.

“There are also objections from multiple neighbouring properties which have yet to be fully addressed.”

A number of neighbouring residents have also written to CEC to challenge the planning application, with Kerry Burgess, of Hunters Gate, raising concerns over possible flooding issues.

“Hunters Gate is prone to flooding, and Cypress House is on higher land, therefore if these apartments are built this will increase flooding for the area,” she said.

In its planning statement, Jay Ashall suggests the apartment block will benefit the area.

It said: “The design objective behind the proposals was to create a sustainable residential development of apartments within the town centre of Handforth in keeping with the surrounding residential use and character.

“The existing site has been vacant for 10 years and will continue to deteriorate if the site is not put into a new use.

“The proposals for conversion of the site to residential use is supported by the local planning authority in their previous planning brief for the site.”

The application can be viewed on CEC’s online planning portal, by searching for reference 16/4462M.