More jobs at new Handforth retail park?

Construction of a new retail development will begin soon, following the completion of a multi-million pound deal by Cheshire East Council’s development company Engine of the North.

The Council says the retail park, to be developed by Alderley Edge-based retail property developer Consolidated Property Group (CPG), has the potential to create 1,200 jobs in the retail and restaurant sectors

Construction of the first phase is due to begin in December and completed by summer 2016 – but it could be at least three years before the entire development is completed.

Phase one will see the opening of a large-scale Next fashion and homeware store creating a claimed 220 jobs. Further phases of the project at the former Airparks site, off Earl Road, will be the subject of a planning application that is due to be submitted after the developer has completed a consultation with the public.

Residents will be able to find out more about the proposals and comment on them at a public exhibition to be held in the near future. If approved, the further phases could take the whole scheme to around 320,000 sq ft of retail space, including shops, ‘drive-thrus’  and restaurants, plus car parking and a gym.

Councillor Jamie Macrae, chairman of Engine of the North, the Council’s wholly-owned development company, said:  “This is the best possible use of this land and we are delighted that it will make such a significant contribution to the economic and commercial prosperity of the Borough.

“The Handforth Dean development has been a tremendous success for Cheshire East and has proved to be extremely popular with our residents and the residents of other boroughs, such as Stockport and Manchester.

“I am also pleased that it will be a local business, CPG, that will carry forward this scheme, which will create in the order of 1,040 jobs, when completed.”

Martin Ridgeway, group managing director at Consolidated Property Group, said: “It is really important that local people, councillors and community groups engage in the consultation process and help shape any proposals that come forward.

“We look forward to holding public consultation events before any further planning application is submitted.

“We are delighted to be working with Cheshire East Council’s Engine of the North in creating this landmark scheme, which will deliver a high-quality destination, providing maximum number of jobs and choice for shoppers.”

Ed: Why is it necessary for developers to make increasingly extravagant claims on the job front? There’s only so much money to be spent so if it’s spent in one place another has to suffer – and jobs will inevitably be lost. Is anyone taken in?