Picture this…a development of homes, shops and businesses

PLANS for a mix of shops, businesses and 290 homes on the site of the famous Ilford black white film company in Cheshire has been approved.

The full application for development at Mobberley was given the go ahead considered by Cheshire East Council’s strategic planning board yesterday after planning officers recommended the green light.

Now, buildings formerly occupied by Harman Technology, run by former managers of Ilford after an MBO in 2005, will be demolished.

They will be replaced by the housing and a business park with “associated infrastructure”.

The application was submitted by Salford-based LPC Living on behalf of Argonaut Holdings Ltd.

A report to the strategic board said the site is split into two halves – the Harman Technology site, already designated as an employment area – and the eastern site which is Green Belt, where open space is proposed.

“It is considered that very special circumstances exist to justify the change of use (of the Green Belt),” the report said.

“The proposal will result in the loss of the vast majority of the geographical extent of the western site for housing. However, it will increase the level of employment on site from existing levels with the introduction of the business park.

“The western site is previously developed land, where the Government’s aims are clear and these proposals align with the intention to encourage the use of brownfield land to boost housing supply.”

The development was considered viable “in terms of social environmental and economic sustainability”, the report said.

Included in the plan is a playing field, play area and allotments for future and existing residents.

The management team of Ilford bought the company out of administration in 2005, but it was sold last year to investment group Pemberstone Ventures.

Pemberstone paid an undisclosed sum for Harman Technology, which employed 200 staff and turned over £19.4m in 2014.