King’s School Cricket Pavilion

ilovemacc reader, Sue Whitham, brings us up to speed on the redevelopment of the King’s School.

Readers will have seen a few articles about the King’s School Cricket Pavilion, by the iconic Cricket Pitch, visible through the Memorial Gates, and a Macclesfield Landmark, being under dire threat of obliteration from developers Hillcrest Homes of Altrincham.

Kings School cricket pavilion

I remember drawing Hillcrest’s attention to it at the only open meeting with residents, two years ago. “Do you know what this is? I see you are intending to remove it.” “It doesn’t fit in with our plans”. “Correction: your plans do not fit in with it.”

This humble little building, with all its weight of Remembrance, has been repeatedly omitted from plans submitted by the developers. There have been protests and representations. A local War Memorial expert has spoken up for it, as have many local people. At last, following the War Memorials Trust has deeming it of value, the developers have supposedly professed interest in Heritage, and their plans show its retention!

We are relieved to know it is to be converted into two “affordable” dwellings as part of the recent plans. Bijou dwellings, I’d say, but there are to be alterations, an upper floor and dormer windows added, and extensions to the rear. The building is to be moved so as to put it in a line with the other houses proposed, which personally I can’t understand.

It is the hope of interested residents of the town that a memorial plaque will be added too, and advice taken from our local expert. A Memorial Garden feature on the site is also proposed.

This is good news, though the delay and the forcing of the hand is to be regretted. Hopefully this little building will continue to stand and represent the King’s School fallen.

That it was ever proposed to demolish it is shameful and disgraceful. King’s does not come out of this well, nor do the selling agents or developers. And it is all a question of money, money, money.

Proposal is that pavilion now lined up with front row bungalows, parallel to Pownall St boundary, not on an angle as currently.
Like Sue I am pleased it is being saved. I would have preferred it to retain full integrity and have a community use, but with school totally disowning it – they could have taken to new site – this could be only sustainable way to preserve it. It will have a plaque/sign and be part of the town’s War Memorial Trail. (I, like many objectors want the rear houses out (density, height) and the memorial building to remain in situ.).

This is also the link to the pavilion ‘rebuild’ architect’s drawing on the planning portal.

https://doc.cheshireeast.gov.uk/NorthgatePublicDocs/08270198.pdf

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