DEVELOPERS have rescued plans for a new industrial estate at the 11th hour by agreeing to cough up cash for the Middlewich eastern bypass.

Total Developments NW wants to build eight industrial units at a site called Pioneer Park – a 369,000sq ft development at Midpoint 18, close to the existing MA6NITUDE site.

It received planning permission for the scheme last October on the condition it provided £687,540 towards the bypass, but the firm later asked Cheshire East Council for that requirement to be axed.

Members of the strategic planning board were due to reconsider the scheme at today’s meeting in Macclesfield, with officers calling for the plans to be rejected.

But the item was withdrawn from this morning’s agenda – and now CEC has confirmed that Total Developments NW is now willing to pay the required funds.

A CEC spokesman said: “The developer has now agreed to pay the contributions to the Middlewich eastern bypass as required.

“Therefore, the original decision of the strategic planning board (October 24, 2018) stands and the application does not need to be revisited.”

Before today’s meeting, CEC planning officers said the development would go against the council’s local plan if it did not provide a financial contribution towards the bypass.

Pioneer Park – which Total Developments NW values at £33 million – is expected to be built up in two phases.

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The developer has full planning permission for the first phase, which includes two industrial units and a new access road from Pochin Way.

Further designs still need to be approved by CEC in a ‘reserved matters’ application for the second phase, which would include the additional six industrial units.