QUESTIONS were raised over the future of Cheshire Fresh this week after a planning inspectorate claimed the developers were abandoning plans for the multi-million pound scheme.


In 2013 Pochin's announced it wanted to create a 47-acre site off Pochin Way that would bring the Chelford and Beeston cattle markets together in a new auction centre for Cheshire.


But this week a planning inspectorate report into a separate matter cast doubt over the scheme.


It claimed there was ‘evidence’ to suggest the Cheshire Fresh scheme is ‘not viable’ and that an alternative scheme is on the cards. 


The report - written by planning inspector G D Jones - related to an appeal decision for a separate application for a housing development in Nether Peover. But it referred to the Cheshire Fresh application in one of the reasons for granting the appeal.


“The delivery of the proposed housing is, in part, dependant on the creation of a replacement cattle market known as Cheshire Fresh," said the report.


“Although there is a planning permission for Cheshire Fresh, the evidence indicates that the approved scheme is not viable and that as a consequence the applicant intends to make a new planning application for an alternative scheme.”


Pochin’s declined to make any comment on the statement when contacted by the Guardian.


Several weeks ago chief executive Jim Nicholson had said the Cheshire Fresh scheme was ‘progressing well’ despite struggles with funding. 


Mr Nicholson said last month: “We’ve got the planning we are now talking to funders. We didn’t get the Regional Growth Fund that we wanted and we are now looking for other funders. I would say that it is progressing well but I would not like to put a date on it.”