Office block could be bulldozed to make way for flats, gym and cafe
A total of 286 new apartments are planned
How the proposed residential development on the site of Royal London House at Wilmslow could look from Fulshaw Hall (Ashton Hale, from planning documents)
Plans have been submitted to bulldoze the vacant Royal London House building in Wilmslow and replace it with 286 new apartments including amenities such as a gym and café. The proposal is to demolish the 1980s office block, together with a decked car park, and replace them with a build-to-rent residential development and multi-storey car park.
A planning statement submitted by Ashton Hale on behalf of The Royal London Mutual Insurance Society, states: “The proposed residential development comprises 286 residential units, with associated infrastructure, ancillary features and landscaping. The residential proposal extends across two courtyard buildings (east and west).
“A number of ground floor amenity spaces are provided in the west courtyard building, including a gym and co-working lounge for resident use. In addition, a café is proposed to be accessible to both residents and the public. A multi-storey car park is proposed to the south to facilitate the development.”
The dated office building has been marketed extensively over the last four years, ‘with virtually no interest’. The planning statement says: “It is clear that there is a lack of demand for office space akin to that which Royal London House provides. The existing building is ill-suited to meet the needs of modern occupiers.”
How the proposed residential development on the site of Royal London House at Wilmslow could look from Fulshaw Hall (Ashton Hale, from planning documents)
The proposed development would provide a mix of one, two and three-bed apartments – the majority being one and two bed units. The planning statement says: “It is proposed that 25 of the apartments will be delivered on an affordable rental basis, which will involve a 20 per cent discount on market rents.”
The proposal includes 364 car parking spaces across the development and 314 cycles spaces. The document says: “Safe, attractive pedestrian and cycle routes link homes with proposed green spaces, local amenities, and wider networks.
“The sequence of internal and external spaces has been designed from a user experience perspective to feel intuitive and welcoming for residents and visitors alike.”
It adds if planning permission is secured in the first few months of 2026, ‘full completion and first occupations are programmed for the end of 2029’. The application, number 26/0102/FUL, can be viewed on the planning portal on Cheshire East Council’s website.
The last date for submitting comments is March 19.