Historic property in hospital grounds to be demolished for housing as it's 'falling down anyway'

An historic old nurses’ home is to be demolished to make way for new housing after councillors agreed it was 'falling down anyway'. Planners have given the go ahead for 27 ‘high quality’ new homes on the site of the long-vacant building at Cheadle Royal Hospital, in Wilmslow Road, Heald Green.

They also gave special permission to knock down the old nurses home, which enjoys listed status due to its setting in the grounds of the Grade II listed hospital. The new development - dubbed ‘The Royal Quarter’ - will feature a mix of three, four and five bedroom properties, including townhouses and detached and semi-detached homes.

A new vehicle entrance will be created from nearby St Ann’s Hospice, while each home has two parking spaces. The proposals, from developer AM7 Group , went before Stockport council’s planning committee on Thursday night (March 23).

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Coun Brian Bagnall said the authority had been ‘very good’ at maintaining the borough’s history and heritage over the years - particularly in the case of listed buildings. But he said councillors had to take a realistic approach given the condition of the nursing home, which has become a target for anti-social behaviour over recent years.

“The stark reality is that this building is falling down anyway," he said. "There’s not much left to preserve. For those that were not on the site visit, it ain’t got a roof, it’s literally falling apart.

“So, I do think permission should be granted and I think we should record what’s there for posterity.”

He continued: “This brings back a section of land that is currently inaccessible to the public. They can’t use it, they can’t see it