Local councillors have been recommended to approve the proposed office expansion in Wimslow of top mutual insurer Royal London.
Royal London, the town’s largest employer, has applied for a new building development to the east of its current office site within the Cheshire Green Belt,
wilmslow.co.uk reported.
According to the report, the Cheshire East Council strategic planning committee is set to consider the insurer’s application on July 13.
The controversial project has been recommended for green light despite 58 filed objections that raised concerns on the office development’s environmental impact,
Insider Media reported.
However, a report prepared by planning officers for next week’s committee meeting said that the office expansion’s environmental impact such as loss of trees can be mitigated.
“The adverse effects of the scheme are significantly and demonstrably outweighed by the benefits and mitigation against these adverse impacts can be achieved through submission of further information as part of the conditions or as part of the reserved matters application,” the report said.
Royal London has argued that its office expansion in Wimslow will help the local economy since it is expected to create 500 to 600 jobs and provide knock-on benefits to businesses in town.
The insurer’s new office would have an internal floor area of about 17,000 square metres, 1,100 parking spaces, pedestrian and cycle routes and better landscaping.
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