By Chris Gee

A former Liberal club in a conservation area could be demolished to make way for a block of supported living apartments.

The former Romiley Liberal Club on Beech Lane is the subject of plans submitted this week by Moss Care St Vincents Housing Association and developers Watson Homes.

Planning documents in support of the application said that use had now ceased due to declining trade and increased running costs. The plans said that due to known need in the borough, discussions have been held to use the site for supported living accommodation.

The site is on the edge of the Church Lane conservation area. The building was constructed as a political clubhouse in 1913 but has recently been operating as a more traditional licensed premises.

However, the need for a specialist layout would mean the demolition of the building. The proposals seek to create 12 apartments across three floors.

The majority of the ground floor would be given over to a single five-bed shared flat with communal living accommodation and associated staff accommodation. There would also be a one-bed independent flat.

How the supported living apartments could look (Image - LDRS)

The two upper floors would each have five apartments with a small shared lounge. These flats would generally have one bed each, however one flat on each floor would be provided with a small second bedroom intended as a respite space for a carer.

A design and access statement said: "The site is located in a primarily residential neighbourhood. While technically it is adjacent to Romiley's commercial centre, the site is in fact separated from this by a railway line."

A heritage assessment by JW Conservation said that the Liberal Club 'makes a positive contribution to the significance of the conservation area and to the significance of the Church of St Chad'. However, the report concluded that 'this is not so substantial as to outweigh redevelopment for the proposed use'.

The report said: "The fact that the building has not been given a local listing status despite being located in the conservation area, suggests that its contribution to the character of the area is recognised to be limited.

"The proposed demolition of an existing building within a conservation area is broadly against Stockport's planning policy, however the provision of high quality supported living accommodation is a specific policy goal. The argument is therefore being made that the benefits of the new development outweigh the harm of the loss of the building."

A decision on the application will be made in the coming months.

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