A former shopping village which was destroyed by fire more than three years ago could be redeveloped for housing.
The units at Slater’s Shopping Village, in Hill Chorlton near Baldwin’s Gate, burned down in November 2021 following a blaze in a restaurant on the site. A planning application has been submitted to Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council which would see the remaining structures demolished and six five-bedroom houses built on the site.
According to the submitted design and access statement, the applicants decided not to rebuild the shopping village due to ‘the challenges of attracting new tenants in the current economic climate’ and the ‘negative impact’ on neighbouring businesses.
The document states: “The site was previously home to Slaters Shopping Village, which housed 15 independent businesses and a restaurant. However, a severe fire in November 2021 caused significant damage, leading a structural engineer to deem the building unsafe and unusable.
“As a result, the tenants have relocated, and given the challenges of attracting new tenants in the current economic climate – combined with the negative impact on neighbouring businesses like Slaters Country Inn – a decision has been made to demolish the shopping village. Rather than rebuilding, this brownfield site will be repurposed for much-needed housing in this sustainable location.”
The proposed houses – which will be built by Stoke-on-Trent-based Ashgreen Homes – will have detached garages and electric vehicle charging points. According to the application, they will be designed to ‘blend in with the surrounding area and existing dwellings using a range of traditional materials while incorporating the latest technology in renewable energy’.
Existing mature trees and hedgerows will be retained, and new planting will provide screening, enhance biodiversity and create an attractive setting for the development.
The design and access statement concludes: “The economic benefits from this development will include creating local jobs for local tradespeople during and post construction. Increasing local spending from new population within the local area will help to support neighbouring and local businesses.
“This development will be delivered by a local company, Ashgreen Homes, with a proven track record for building beautiful homes, bringing back the British architecture we seem to have lost.
“These are the right homes, in the right place, providing opportunities for all. The benefits of this application by far outweigh any harms.”
However, Whitmore Parish Council has objected to the proposed development. Its response to the application states: “The development site is completely ‘unsustainable’ since it is located in the countryside, with no essential facilities (shops, school, doctor’s surgery etc) available for a considerable distance in any direction, except for the immediately adjacent Slaters Public House, so that people living there will be obliged to use vehicle travel to access these.”
The application is currently pending consideration, with a decision expected in the coming months.
