Plans to convert six holiday apartments in Northwich into a family home have been rubber-stamped.

Cheshire West and Chester Council's planning committee have given the green light to an application to transform Yew Tree Apartments on Davenham Road into a single residential dwelling.

The apartments currently consist of six self-contained holiday lets within a single barn. In a planning statement submitted in support of the plans, the applicant said he wants to turn the apartments into a ‘suitable living environment’ for his family.

The statement added the current use of the apartments in Whatcroft as holiday lets had become ‘increasingly unsustainable’ due to what it called a 'high vacancy rate', and said a 'significant investment' was required in the upkeep of the building.

It said: "At the point of submitting this application, only two of the six holiday lets are inhabited. Despite efforts to market the property, occupancy levels have remained low, making it difficult to maintain the property as a viable business."

The statement said it had been more than 20 years since the last major refurbishment. It added: "As such, it requires a complete rewire, has an inefficient heating scheme, and is very tired.

"It is not sustainable to complete these upgrades and as such, without (the upgrades) is likely to lead to the building falling into disrepair. The building is not sustainable as a holiday let business."

The statement said that transitioning the property to a single family dwelling would allow for a ‘more practical, stable, and sustainable use of the space’.

It added: "It will ensure the property remains well-maintained, contributing positively to the local area rather than remaining partially empty or in decline due to inconsistent occupancy."

The statement concluded: "The current commercial use is not economically viable, and converting to a family dwelling represents a more practical long-term solution. The change of use will result in increased biodiversity and aligns with the ambitions of Cheshire West and Chester’s environmental strategies.”

Granting approval, a planning officer's report, said: "The local planning authority has sought to work with the applicant in a positive and proactive
way to secure a development that will improve the economic, social and environmental conditions of the area."