PLANNING chiefs have poured cold water on plans to build another retail park near Handforth Dean for the second time in two years.

Orbit Investments is keen to demolish office buildings on land near Earl Road and Epsom Avenue, which is adjacent to the existing retail park, and build seven retail units in their place.

The firm saw the same application be rejected by Cheshire East Council in March 2016, and at a strategic planning board meeting on Wednesday, May 24, councillors again voted to refuse the proposal.

Ahead of the meeting CEC officers had recommended that plan was refused due to the land being allocated for employment use, but with a scheme to expand the existing retail park passed just moments earlier, Orbit had renewed hope.

It reminded councillors that Handforth Parish Council had raised no objection to the plan and asked them to support it, but Cllr Barry Burkhill, CEC member for Handforth, disagreed.

“Although I supported the [CPG] applications I cannot support this one,” he said.

“These are quite different sites, they are not in the same plan.

“This is an employment site and is used as such. It has not been marketed sufficiently for that purpose, but maybe it will be more attractive once the SEMMS road is built.”

Cllr Toni Fox agreed the plans should be rejected, and raised concerns shoppers would cause parking problems by leaving their cars on the existing site while walking to the Orbit one.

But Cllr Sarah Pochin urged members to take a more innovative approach.

She said: “We have heard this site has been marketed for 10 years with no interest.

“We should approve this and let market demand have its way, and in due course will see what shall prevail.”

Cllr Jill Merry, chairman of the strategic planning committee, gave a casting vote to refuse the bid after members were split – with Cllr Derek Hough choosing to abstain.

Orbit’s first application is currently under appeal, and a hearing by the secretary of state will take place at Macclesfield Town Hall on Tuesday, June 13.