A PLAN to turn Timperley's Hare and Hounds into 68 retirement homes has been withdrawn weeks before the Planning Inspectorate was due to make its decision.
Churchill Retirement Living appealed to the inspectorate on February 22 after Trafford Council missed its own deadline to decide on the application.
The plan, which the council's planning committee since said it would have refused, was set for consideration by the Planning Inspectorate on May 24.
A spokesperson for Churchill Retirement Living confirmed the decision and explained it hopes to come up with proposals acceptable to both them and the council.
They said: "Following further discussions with Trafford Council, it was decided that we would withdraw our appeal and seek to work proactively with the council and attempt to narrow the points of disagreement to achieve an acceptable planning consent.
"We still hope to regenerate the site so that it can become home to a development for over-60s who want to carry on living independently as they get older, but with the safety, support and social life that comes with living in a retirement living community."
Built in the 1800s, the Hare and Hounds has served residents and others from a prominent position at the crossroads of Shaftesbury Avenue, Stockport Road and Wood Lane for almost 200 years. It remains open to customers today.
But Churchill's plan is to turn the pub and its immediate surroundings into a combination of apartments and cottages for pensioners over the age of 60.
Although Trafford Council missed its own deadline, its planning committee met to discuss the application on March 14.
Members were unanimous in their criticism of the plan and said the committee would have refused it if it had been allowed to do so.
Cllr Daniel Bunting offered the strongest criticism of the proposals and of Churchill.
Cllr Bunting said: "This is an awful, third rate, thrown together design.
"And looking at the name of the applicant, this isn't surprising. This isn't the first time Churchill have brought to us a terrible design.
"We've refused them in the past and they seem as if from nowhere to come back with a better design, as if they're trying to see what they can get away with. It's happened several times.
"It looks more like barracks accommodation than anything. It's completely unsuitable."
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