A reluctant set of councillors approved a plan to transform the old Bowdon Hotel in spite of several concerns at the proposal.

A scheme for apartments, townhouses, a care home and a children's nursery was submitted to Trafford Council in April 2022.

Some buildings on the site on Langham Road, on the border of two conservation areas, are to be removed.

But the old Hydropathic Establishment, or Hydro, as well as villas Hawthorn Lea and Langham Lea, are to be retained. These buildings date back to the late 1800s.

The council received a number of representations from residents and other bodies in the area. Dozens of residents wrote in support of the plan, as did other organisations such as the Altrincham and Bowdon Civic Society and Altrincham Grammar School for Boys.

However, a number of residents wrote in opposition to the proposal, expressing concerns ranging from its appearance and character to its impact on traffic in the area.

Perhaps the most important opponent was the authority's own Adult Social Care Department, which said the creation of another care home was not needed and even suggested a moratorium on these developments in order to relieve pressures such as staff shortages.

A lot of councillors on the authority's Planning and Development Management Committee agreed with this assessment, but these were told in no uncertain terms this was not a reason for refusal.

Rebecca Coley, Head of Planning and Development, said: "A planning committee must make decisions on planning grounds. You can't make decisions on grounds which aren't planning grounds. 

"We will lose an appeal and we will end up with a care home anyway."

The conversation turned to another reason for refusal, but no one reason was considered to be sufficient.

After almost an hour Mike Freeman, a Labour Group councillor for Sale Moor, summarised the situation.

Cllr Freeman said: "I think our hands are tied. I regret to say it, as I don't like the development. I've got no enthusiasm for it. 

"I know the site needs a development, but I think our hands are tied. I'm going to have to vote in favour of the application."

The plan was approved, subject to an agreement for applicants McGoff Group and Patrick Properties to cover more than £2 million in contributions to the provision of affordable homes, education, healthcare and open spaces elsewhere.

Jordan Kennedy, director at Patrick Properties, said: "We are delighted to have received planning consent for the former Mercure Hotel site, which will be transformed from its current state into an innovative, multi-generational, hyper-local community, bringing old and young together. 

"It is a true regeneration project in a highly desirable location that will benefit all ages. Furthermore, it will be delivered by two well-established, Altrincham-based businesses working in partnership and will create local employment too."

This article was written by Jack Tooth. Jack is the reporter for The Messenger and covers anything and everything from within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford.

To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.