Another 1,400 homes planned for Manchester as council fleshes out vision for Diecast site

The proposals and imagery within this SRF are frankly dull and a repeat of what we see elsewhere around the city. Unfortunately the ambition and vision for these types of districts in the city seems to be defined by how tall the buildings could be, rather than suggesting thoughtful articulated massing proposals that respond to context and enhance pedestrian experience over the long term. A missed opportunity to embed some distinctive narrative for the area.

Calling it “East Village” is absolutely tragic honestly

It really would be interesting to know how much the construction industry is growing in Manchester. Its surely a very robust market, every week seems to bring another skyscraper development to planning.

Store street can not handle the amount of traffic already. Serious highway assessments and improvements required. The current road closure for a small residential scheme is creating a nightmare every evening. Maybe MCC Councillor’s should spend some time round here at peak rush hour.

I agree with Alex. I suggest Elnecot Village which was Ancoats’ original name, as it is in effect an extension of Ancoats, and will have the same demographic.

I know that developers don’t care and only want maximum margins, but it seems nonsensical to knock down Diecast and replace it with flats. The people who move to Manchester to live in said flats are still going to want something to do in their free time?

This incredibly dull and uninspiring rubbish is what you get when one architect has there mits over everything done in this city. There are so many other better options and approaches that could be done here. Same old same old. New leader, same cryonism as before.

KatieT – do you honestly think people who live here will be driving? Best solution for Store St is to close it to cars entirely and convert it to a park/pedestrianised space – it’s not a radial route, or a main road. It’s a city centre street.

It’s fantastic how Manchester city centre continues to grow and prosper.

I can’t think of any reason why building homes right next to an established music venue isn’t a great idea.
Also store St won’t handle traffic

Looking at the overhead view of the planned proposal, and taking into consideration the amount of traffic there is and can be, what will the impact be on emergency services be especially the fire service

I’m normally in favour of densification of our city centre. However, the sunlight and daylight getting into the proposed ground floor public spaces here, plus the lack of ground floor activity / interest is somewhat poor and frankly a bit public ‘unfriendly’. Describing this area as a “green neighbourhood” is also pulling our legs a bit isn’t it? As said above, there doesn’t appear to be a “distinctive narrative” for this area – and that’s a shame.

As an Urban Designer in Manchester City Centre, it’s frankly disappointing to see blocks of 49 storey buildings with little consideration for their surrounding environment or social infrastructure available. Waiting lists for valuable local services are being stretched as it is. The ‘greenspace’ appears to have been an afterthought in this scheme as it is with any city centre development. Manchester City Centre is losing its rich and diverse cultural identity with each new skyscraper on the horizon. Surely we can do better than this for public spaces that are already so overpopulated and crowded.

And there are idiots that thought extending the green space at Central Retail Park/Cotton Field Park was a stupid idea

Are there other architects available or are we condemned to put up with one again the bland ugly checkerboard designs of Britain’s regional, very regional architect SH. It is to
wonder whether HS are capable of anything else than putting up piles and sticking
on the checkerboard cladding that we are used to seing and that nobody wants nor likes. Manchester must redefine its politics concerning tall buildings. Leeds for exemple is an architectural blight, a veritable mess. Designing tall buildings of QUALITY requires architects of real talent and imagination. Sadly Manchester is looking very bland. I hope this will change. Let’s see a change of architects. We can mesure the importance of a city and a civilization by the greatness of its architecture. Manchester has some fine buildings and the designs of he new buildings must be up to the task.

What about traffic??? I can feel chaos.

It is concrete forest and I see no green space at all. Where is the park?

Awful unnecessary development. Foreign or London owner buy to lets ruining a quieter area of the city. Eyesore towers and huge council tax grab

Going to get very windy

People who live all over Manchester city centre drive, this will be the same