Retail park will be good for Macclesfield – LOL!

*If you didn’t know – LOL means Laugh out Loud!

The firm behind the Black Lane/Barrack’s Mill development has defended it – claiming it won’t have a negative impact on Macclesfield town centre – currently in severe decline – helped in no small measure by out-of-town developments!

The original plan, sold to us – and approved by Cheshire East – was that the retail sheds would only be selling bulkier items such as white goods – washing machines, fridges, tv’s etc – and carpets.

Inevitably, once we’d been softened up – and objectors ran out of steam – all that changed.

The news that Marks & Spencer is to close its High Street store, moving just the food element to Barrack’s Mill dealt the first huge blow to Macclesfield town centre.

Now concerns have increased, following an application by B&M, wanting to increase the amount of food and health and beauty products they could sell – which inevitably means the loss of its Exchange Street store.

Macclesfield Civic Society have said that the restrictions placed on Barrack’s Mill, to protect trade in the town centre, were suffering a ‘piece by piece erosion’.

Our take on this was that this was inevitable from the start – and to trust that any developer would be honest about their ultimate aim was pure naivety.

After making the B&M request, developer Cedar Invest has laughably claimed its development will actually be good for Macclesfield as a whole.

John Whateley, director at the firm,  said: “The recent planning applications don’t change what will be built  in any way – construction is already under way to transform the once  eyesore site and we’re looking forward to stores opening this summer.

“The applications simply accommodate the needs of some of the key businesses, for example longer opening hours for gym-goers to access the site.

“We’re committed to supporting the wider regeneration of Macclesfield as the town centre evolves.

“Our site features accessible parking  with electric vehicle charging points and we’re working with the council to ensure we encourage as many visitors as possible to explore  the town centre via a short walk along the new pedestrian links we’re creating.”

The B&M application seeks permission for 295 sqm of food sales space and 148 sq m for health and beauty products.

“Other outlets at the site will be able to sell more food but this is to increase what can be sold alongside a variety of  other products.”

Mr Whateley also claimed: “We’re making fantastic progress on the site at Barrack’s Mill, with the £25 million project helping  keep the likes of Marks & Spencer in Macclesfield, providing a home to an additional Aldi, and attracting household names including B&M, The Gym Group and Costa Coffee.

“Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the  park is already fully let, bringing 200 jobs to the town in what is a  real vote of confidence in Macclesfield.

The problem is that this development may well be creating 200 jobs – but what the developers never say is how many jobs will be lost.

Think about the thousands of jobs there were before the developers moved into town in the 1960’s. With the demise of hundreds of small, independent businesses over the years, Macclesfield not only lost the money they took every day – which more likely than not would end up being spent in other local businesses – but also all the jobs.

Next time a retail business says it’s creating jobs – don’t believe a word – in truth it’s the opposite!

And do the planners never consider the impact of these out-of-town retail parks on the less-mobile members of society?