FORMER petrol station land at Alderley Road, Wilmslow is to be transformed into a hand car wash and valeting business.

The business is to be created at the former Kings Arms service station site after Isa Dajci won his appeal against being refused planning approval for the scheme.

The application was rejected by Cheshire East Council in July, but The Planning Inspectorate allowed the appeal by Mr Dajci, whose application for costs against the council was also allowed.

The appeal was allowed by inspector Paul Singleton, who said the main issues were the effect of the scheme on the character and appearance of the areas and highway safety.

“None of the proposed buildings or structures would be inappropriate in the context of the surrounding uses when seen from Alderley Road,” he said in his decision report.

He added that the car wash and valeting site would feature six parking bays for waiting customers in addition to the ‘stacking’ capacity within the site entrance.

“Based on this evidence there would be limited risk of vehicles queueing on the public highway to access the site,” he said.

“If some queuing on the highway was to occur Alderley Road is wide enough for waiting vehicles to be accommodate without impeding the flow of through traffic.

“A number of objectors have raised concerns about the likely effects on congestion and the flow of traffic.

“The additional traffic generated by the proposal would be of a relatively modest level.

“It seems unlikely that many drivers would seek to perform a right turn out of the site when they have the much easier option of using the roundabout to return southbound on Alderley Road. I do not perceive this as a significant safety risk.

“A condition has been attached to limit the hours of operations to protect the living conditions of nearby residents.”

In his costs decision report Mr Singleton said the council did not submit a Statement of Case in support of its reasons for refusing permission in accordance with the relevant timescales.

“By not submitting a Statement of Case the council has failed to explain why it took a decision contrary to the professional advice it received and failed to substantiate the reasons for the refusal of planning permission,” he said.

“I find that these failures amount to unreasonable behaviour on the council’s part, and that, had the officers’ advice been followed, the appeal could have been avoided entirely.”