BUILDING SOCIETY BEATS OFF PLANNING OBJECTIONS (From Warrington Guardian)

BUILDING SOCIETY BEATS OFF PLANNING OBJECTIONS

BUILDING society bosses have won their fight to move to a new base in the centre of Congleton.

The Cheshire appealed to the Department of the Environment after being refused permission by the borough council to move into a vacant retail unit in Bridge Street.

The society won the day after planning inspector Robert Forster took the view that the loss of a modest-sized unit would not affect the ''vitality and viability'' of the town centre.

The Cheshire is situated opposite Woolworth, and the appeal decision will see it move to a single-fronted unit at 18, Bridge Street.

''The borough council maintains the part of Bridge Street where the appeal premises stands is particularly important for retailing, being the town's pedestrian area,'' said Mr Forster.

Allowing the Cheshire to move to 18, Bridge Street would break a run of 11 retail units, he added, although such a break would not be major.

''The loss of one modest-sized unit cannot be regarded as a significant loss sufficient to affect the vitality or viability of the town centre,'' he said.

The council relied for its refusal on an appeal decision relating to a free-standing, double-fronted unit opposite Safeway, he said, which was not comparable with the premises at 18, Bridge Street.

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