Court dismisses developer’s appeal over Manchester towers
A standoff between the city council and Great Jackson Street Estates over a lease, which is preventing the development of more than 1,000 apartments across two towers at Great Jackson Street, looks set to continue.
A Court of Appeal judge has dismissed an appeal by Great Jackson Street Estates, controlled by Aubrey Weis, over a decision taken by the Upper Tribunal in 2023.
The tribunal ruled in favour of freeholder Manchester City Council in a disagreement about the existing lease, which GJSE was seeking to modify to enable the redevelopment of the site.
The existing lease has 60 years to run.
The city council had offered the developer a new 250-year lease containing “numerous conditions and milestones in relation to the development and would provide for forfeiture if the development milestones were not achieved”, according to court documents.
However, GJSE rejected it and instead sought to amend the existing lease through the courts but was thwarted.
A spokesperson for the appellant said: “We are now considering our options, including seeking permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.”
