Plans for a vacant Alsager town centre unit to be brought back into full-time use as a café bar have been approved by Cheshire East.

M and T Poole Group SIPP submitted a change of use application for 44, Crewe Road, Alsager, from offices to a café bar.

Plans for a ramped access, external dining area to the front, lightweight side extension, internal alterations and external storage areas were also included in the proposals.

In April 2019, a change of use application from offices to a restaurant at the same location was granted permission by Cheshire East.

However, since that application was approved, the development had not been implemented due to "market uncertainty" surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic.

But the applicant has now secured a tenant, Titanic, who wish to open a new unit from the building. Titanic who are a small brewery business also operate a small chain of café bars called 'The Bod Café Bar'.

Bod Cafe Bars aim 'to generate a relaxing and comfortable environment where all the local community can come together, meet and socialise'.

The company originate from Stoke-on-Trent and operate a number of café bars on the same premise as is proposed for 44, Crewe Road, including Stafford, Stoke Station and Trentham.

These units operate as a community facility and café bar throughout the day and evening. It is intended that the Alsager premises would operate in a similar way.

The unit, whilst providing coffee, snacks and food throughout the day expects sales from 6pm onwards to generally be 'wet led'.

The café bar will be open from 9am to 11pm, Monday to Sunday.

Alsager Town Council objected to the application because they felt the plans were 'out of character for the area'. The town council requested that if approved, the proposed opening hours were reduced.

However, Cheshire East highlighted that the opening hours requested were the same as those on the previous approved application and a request to reduce hours would be "unreasonable".

Six letters of objection were submitted on Cheshire East's online planning portal in response to the application, whilst one letter of support was also registered.

A Cheshire East Council case officer's report stated that 'proposals that help develop the evening and night-time economy in the principal towns and key service centres will be supported, where any negative impacts on amenity are addressed.'

The site backs onto a residential property on Station Road and there are some houses on the opposite side of the road. Objections were lodged about the 'adverse impact on residential amenity'.

As originally submitted, the side extension would have had a retractable roof, but this was changed to a fix roof that does not retract.

Nevertheless, the council's conservation department had expressed some concerns about the proposal, however as it was 'almost identical' to the extant approval, therefore refusal on these grounds could 'not be sustained'.

The request for the reinstatement of a boundary wall was taken on board by the applicant and does now form part of the proposals.

Built in 1889, the site is on the Cheshire East local list of historic buildings and is described as a 'highly detailed brick building, with a strong street presence'.

The building has been empty since Edward Hollinshead Solicitors vacated the premises in approximately 2016/2017.

Cheshire East considered the additions to the site to be "limited" and of a "lightweight" design that "would not detract" from the character and appearance of the building, especially as they "are almost identical" to those approved under the previous application.

The case officer concluded: "The proposed development is considered to be of acceptable design, in keeping with the character of the area, and would not adversely impact upon the amenities of neighbours."

The application was approved.

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