The expansion plans of mutual insurer Royal London has moved forward after getting the nod of the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).
 
Sajid Javid, DCLG secretary of state, said there was no need to review the Cheshire East Council’s decision last month allowing Royal London to develop its new headquarters in Wilmslow, the Wilmslow Guardian reported.
 
In July, the council approved Royal London’s outline planning application for a new office development to the east of its existing site and south of the town centre despite dozens of community complaints against the project.
 
Wilmslow Dean Row borough councillor Toni Fox asked the DCLR to review the outline planning permission granted to the insurer, but to no avail.
 
“The decision by the Secretary of State is very disappointing as Royal London clearly offer no guarantee that they will remain on this site,” the Wilmslow Guardian quoted Fox as saying.
 
“Should the company decide on an alternative location, planning permission for new offices and car parking on greenbelt land has been endorsed needlessly given the significant amount of vacant office premises within the area and the predicted decrease in economic growth as a result of the Brexit vote.
 
Following the DCLG move, Royal London now intends to continue discussion with developers of three potential construction locations within the area, according to the Wilmslow Guardian report.
 
A decision on both the developer and the site can be expected by early 2017, the report added.
 
Royal London plans to build a new office with an internal floor area of 17,000 square metres, parking for 1,100 cars, as well as pedestrian and cycle routes.
 
The insurer said its office expansion in Wimslow will help the local economy by creating 500 to 600 jobs.
 
Insider Media earlier reported that at least 58 objections were filed against the proposed development within the Cheshire Green Belt and raised concerns on the project’s environmental impact.
 
However, planning officers said in a report that the mitigation measures and the project’s benefits outweigh its adverse effects to the environment.
 
 
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