PLANNING chiefs have given the green light to the long-awaited multi-million pound Altair scheme in Altrincham.

But councillors on Trafford's planning committee expressed frustration that nothing had been done on the Oakfield Road site - a decade after the scheme was first proposed.

They spoke out as they considered Altrincham-based Nikal's proposals for Altair - a £70m leisure, housing and office scheme for the 4.5 acre car park area.

The developer proposes to carry out the work in four phases. The first £15m phase is for the 'gateway' part of the development.

This will see the demolition of the ATS Euromaster premises and an eight storey block built containing 59 apartments.

There will also be a new entrance to the ice rink and a 100-space car park.

Three further phases are planned over the next seven years.

The site would also include bars, cafes, restaurants, shops and possibly a leisure centre.

But the planning committee was told by Oakfield Road resident Sarah Walmsley that continuous delays in the work beginning, and now the new four-phase plan, had caused 'planning blight' for her and her neighbours, affecting the price of their properties.

She said they could not sell their homes and were "effectively imprisoned on Oakfield Road by the development."

She asked for a condition to be added which forced the developer to buy the homes of those residents who wished to sell.

She also wants parking spaces to be provided for the Oakfield Road residents.

Planning committee members said they were sympathetic to the residents but could not impose such a condition.

Cllr Laurence Walsh expressed his frustration at the lack of progress with the development: "This site has been a disgrace for years.

"This goes back 10 years - and nothing has happened. I wish we could put a time limit on this.

"I have no confidence this is going to move forward."

He said he could understand the residents' frustrations and added: "Can we develop this site? It is an embarrassment to the borough."

Cllr Nathan Evans said: "I am very sympathetic to the residents. This has been running for many, many years.

"I think the whole of Altrincham wants this built."

Planning committee vice chairman, Cllr Dan Bunting, said he was more optimistic than his colleagues that progress was being made: "We are seeing movement and progress. I know it has been a long time coming."

Agent for the scheme, John Suckley, said Altair was an important factor in the regeneration and economic growth of Altrincham.

The planning committee unanimously agreed it was 'minded to grant' the application.

After the meeting, James Payne, architectural director at Nikal, said: “Nikal is delighted to have received the unanimous support of the planning committee which is a significant step towards starting development at Altair.
"We now await the committee’s decision on our reserved matters planning application for the first phase of the scheme, which we hope will be decided by early March.
"Subject to planning approval, this will enable us to start construction almost immediately.”

Judie Collins, of Altrincham and Bowdon Civic Society, said: "We welcome the first phase of what has been a long process.

"We would like to thank Nikal and their architects for their willingness to discuss change pre-application and hope this will lead to further development on Altair."