A former hotel in Bowdon is set to be transformed into flats, townhouses, a nursery and a care home. The Bowdon Mercure hotel closed its doors in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic.
Now, two developers are teaming up to try and bring the 1.7 acre conservation area site back to life. Plans from McGoff Group and Patrick Properties state the historic buildings already on site, namely the Hawthorne Lea buildings and the Bowdon Hydro, will be retained as part of the scheme.
The Hawthorne Lea buildings will become home to the six new apartments and the Hydro will house the new 95-place nursery, if the plans are approved by Trafford council. The remaining buildings on site are set to be demolished to make way for the 53-bedroom care home and town houses.
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It is understood that the developers have been working together alongside Trafford council’s planning department to give them the best chance of being accepted.
A huge number of letters have been sent to the council by nearby residents regarding the proposals – many of which are in support of the plans – particularly the retention of the historic buildings on site.
One resident wrote: “I am delighted to learn that the site currently occupied by the vacant and derelict former Mercure hotel has received a planning application that is so in keeping with the surrounding property type.
“I am pleased to see the original villas are being retained and look forward to seeing their restoration to their former glory.”
However, not everyone is pleased by the plans.
Another resident wrote: “We have grave concerns about the proposal that has been put forward and strongly believe it should be rejected.
“The proposed site is an incredibly busy junction and within a very short distance are several large schools. All of these schools generate a significant amount of traffic and congestion.
“[The site would add to this] and all of this additional traffic would lead to even more congestion.”
The full planning application will go through the council’s usual planning procedures and be decided upon by the planning committee in due course.
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