Chorlton shopping centre regen approved
Developer PJ Livesey received an early Christmas present from Manchester City Council, which voted to approve plans for a 262-home scheme that has ruffled some feathers locally.
In June, PJ Livesey lodged plans on behalf of landowner Greater Manchester Pension Fund to redevelop the vacant Chorlton Cross Shopping Centre.
The developer wants to knock down the defunct retail scheme to pave the way for a mix of homes across 10-, eight-, six-, and four-storey blocks.
The Chorlton Square development would provide 56 one-, 135 two-, and 15 three-bedroom apartments at market rates.
Southway Housing Trust has agreed to operate 49 affordable units, to be defined as social rent, split across 16 one-bed and 33 two-bed flats. The affordable units would require funding from Homes England to materialise, which has been requested.
Designed by Feilden Clegg Bradley, the scheme has had some Chorlton residents up in arms, generating more than 1,300 representations. Many of the objectors are upset about the height of the development.
Georgina Lynch, managing director at PJ Livesey, said: “This is a landmark moment for Chorlton, marking the transformation of the former shopping centre into a vibrant new hub for the community.
“Working closely with Manchester City Council, we’ve carefully balanced the delivery of much-needed new homes — including 20% affordable — with the creation of lively, welcoming spaces to shop, relax, and spend time. This site is at the heart of Chorlton, and we’re bringing it back to life, cementing the area’s reputation as a truly great place to live.”
Jonathan Turner, Southway Housing Trust’s assistant director for development added: “We’re proud to collaborate with partners to make homes for social rent part of this exciting new mixed-use development in the heart of Chorlton.
“There is a real shortage of affordable housing in Chorlton, especially smaller homes so these new one and two-bed apartments will be easier for residents to maintain and will help free up larger properties for families in need.”
Colin Thomasson, executive director at CBRE and one of the property advisers for GMPF, applauded the recent planning decision.
“GMPF has worked closely with their development partners PJ Livesey and Southway Housing Trust, to design 262 high quality new homes, with 20% of the homes being affordable,” Thomasson said.
“The development will also deliver new retail spaces, including a Makers Yard, along with high quality green spaces and public realm. Initial works, including the building strip out and asbestos removal have already been completed, and we look forward to commencing construction in the new year.”
CBRE is the planner for the project. The project team also includes Randall Thorp, Civic Engineers, Futureserv, Artec Fire, Vista Consulting, and LTL Property.
To view the application, use the planning reference 142652/FO/2025 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.
About time! Now get on with the job!
By Anonymous
Amazing news, a suitably dense development for what is a very well connected site. Provision of 49 social housing homes is excellent.
Replacing the worn out shopping centre where businesses were paying minimal rent was clearly needed in the next five years so it’s great to have this approved and ready to go. A new influx of people into the centre of Chorlton will have a massively beneficial effect on the viability of shops and local businesses.
By ChorltonResident
This will be a day long remembered. It has seen the end of The Nimby’s campaign, it will soon see the end of the ghasty Greame House.
By MainRoadMary
The NIMBYs never presented a viable alternative other than “fewer floors”. Sorry but we can’t continually delay improvements to our town centres, economic growth and new jobs just because a selfish few are afraid of change. Steamroll the NIMBYs and get stuff like this done 10x quicker please.
By Anonymous
Fantastic news, can’t believe that the nimbys would rather have a derelict Thomas Cook store to look at to remind them of the good days rather than improving their own lives and town centre
By Anonymous
Wow that sound lovely design and great to approved good for local economy. Well-done 👍
By G J Kitchener
A big day for the suburbs. A real litmus test for providing more housing near great transport links that aren’t just £500k terraces.
By Anonymous
Too many wittering YiMBYs in the comments again. It’s been approved stop moaning.
By Anonymous
Regardless of the aesthetic of the scheme good to see consent finally approved.
It’s a shame that it has taken 2 years for GMPF and the developer to get to this stage having cleared the retailers out 2 years ago .
I hope that this development compensates for the damage caused by its premature closure and also the cycle lanes in the centre .
Also hope that they have a decent parking provision for the sake of the remaining retailers.
Overall good news though .
By Developer Bob
Hooray! Great news for Chorlton. This is a good scheme that went to great lengths to consult with local residents. I love the height and am excited to see the new influx of life (both people and retail/hospitality) in the centre of Chorlton.
By D
This has rumbled on.
By Anon
Where is the car park?
By Wendy Bird
An absolute eyesore & far too big a development for the area. 10 stories is ridiculous. A massive 20% could be ‘affordable ‘: that is nowhere near enough. A sad day for Chorlton but I wouldn’t expect any better from the Red Tories dominating the council
By Anonymous
This was a vibrant shopping centre for years with a large office complex where workers spent their money in the local economy. Now the just for profit developers, ignore local people and continue building the slums of the future
By Anonymous
This is terrible news for Chorlton. Losing around 20 commercial units and not being replaced as was first suggested by developers. The units were closed down so it can be described as vacant. I think it’s disgraceful! The precinct was busy with good shops for the local community. These are now lost forever.
By Anonymous
I’m gonna bet £20 every nimby bought their home pre 2000 and probably doesn’t have a mortgage left
By Anonymous
Chorlton is a disgrace there are no shops & none planned in this new development
The cycle lanes have caused chaos & traffic at a stand still
There is no community left ..it is sad & run down putting more homes will not help we need community shops,centers, hubs for locals
Go to Altrincham now that is a town center Chorlton is shabby & scruffy no pride left
By Anonymous
Affordable units can’t be paid for with their original funds? Garbage.
By Anonymous
RIP Cholton Precinct
By Janet Breeze
At last!
By Martin
I am astonished that the development has been approved, it is hugely out of character with the surrounding area, and looks like a fortress. I had thought that the plan was an opening bid, with a long negotiation ahead to get something less forbidding eventually accepted.
If it is to be built, please get on with it quickly. It was senseless to close the old shopping centre down without an approved redevelopment in place, and its closure is noticeably sulking life out of the whole area.
By Jim Holloway
My prediction: once this is complete and open, all the NIMBYs and grumblers will be wondering why they were making such a fuss. It’s a great scheme that will change the face of Chorlton for the better for many generations to come, especially in comparison to the truly dismal Graeme House and precinct it’s replacing.
By YIMBY