CHESHIRE East Council is investigating why work is being done at the derelict former Crewe Chronicle offices when the planning application isn't due to be decided until next month.

A Newbury-based property management company wants to convert the upper floors of the former newspaper offices on the High Street into two apartments.

The same applicant has also submitted a separate scheme to convert the upstairs of the boarded-up former cobbler's shop next door into one flat.

But scaffolding has gone up and work seems to have started, even though both applications were only registered in the middle of July and no decision is expected to be made by Cheshire East until the beginning of September at the earliest.

A spokesperson for Cheshire East Council told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "This matter is currently under investigation and, if any works are being undertaken without the necessary permissions in place, that would be entirely at their own risk."

The vandalised, eyesore building, which has not been owned by the Chronicle for years, has been empty since the newspaper moved out about 15 years ago.

The boarded-up cobbler's shop next door has also been empty for years.

Cllr Anthony Critchley, whose Crewe Central ward covers the High Street, had called in the application, asking for it to be decided by the southern planning committee rather than a planning officer under delegated authority.

He too was confused that work of some sort has begun.

"As far as I'm aware it's not been decided yet, hence my call-in last week," said Cllr Critchley.

The Crewe councillor called in the application because, although he accepted the area is in drastic need of improvement, he had "grave concerns about the change of purpose being made without representations from council members, nearby traders and the wider public".

Cllr Critchley said, while he welcomed the developer championing use of a brownfield site, he was worried a full, detailed planning application had not been submitted.

"Without a full application being presented to the southern planning committee, there is potential that issues around amenities like waste, vehicle/cycle parking and air quality will not be discussed and therefore conditions cannot be put in place to combat and mitigate the effects of these issues," said the councillor.

"Without thorough scrutiny, this application is open to the potential of becoming a HMO (house of multiple occupation) with the associated problems.

"I must add that this particular location is of great significance for the local area, with it housing the Crewe Chronicle offices for countless years. It is for this reason that there will likely be a public interest in the town's heritage."

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has attempted to contact the applicant for a comment but has had no response.

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