DeTrafford in for planning with tower cluster
Developer DeTrafford Estates has submitted a full planning application for three towers on the Olympia trading estate between Great Jackson Street and Owen Street in Manchester.
The SimpsonHaugh-designed scheme, close to the Castlefield conservation area, comprises three towers, of 37, 31 and 23 storeys – 32, 26 and 18 respectively above a five-floor podium level – offering a combined total of 399 apartments and 50 retirement flats, along with a rooftop restaurant and 7,200 sq ft of commercial space. Paul Butler Associates has filed the application on behalf of DeTrafford.
The site is currently home to light industrial units which are to be demolished, and sits next to Renaker’s cluster of four towers in Owen Street, the tallest of which will be 66 storeys. Construction at Owen Street, the first major scheme to come forward under the Great Jackson Street development framework, started last autumn.
The shortest of DeTrafford’s blocks will be built in the western part of the site, with the taller buildings towards the Owen Street side. Of the 399 apartments, 240 will be two-bedroom, 132 one-bedroom and 27 three-bedroom.
In the planning statement, Paul Butler said that DeTrafford is currently preparing a development appraisal as to affordable housing and viability, which it will submit following the application.
The De Trafford site outlined in red, with Owen Street to the right
The planning statement’s conclusion said: “The scheme will continue the regeneration of this part of the city centre, which has long been in decline, and will act as a catalyst for the redevelopment of other sites. The site has been shown to be a suitable and sustainable location for new development.”
The professional team also includes ecologist Urban Green, Curtins on transport advice, Watt Consulting Engineers, Redmore Environmental on air quality, light consultant GIA and DEP Landscape Architecture.
Cannot wait. That area of town is going to be fantastic. Well done Manchester!
By Schwyz
I hope there will be Human interface on the ground levels and not just walls of glass, it makes it so cold and impersonal.
By Eat more pies
Can’t wait to see this finished. The Owen Street towers are already making a big impression and they are only 15 floors up! It will be liked a mini Manhattan!
By David
I like the idea of accomodation for retired people.This is a group of people who have been ignored in Central Manchester,with a lot of emphasis on young professionals.In major world cities,older well heeled people are very visible,as they are the ones who will be generally more likely to patronise Manchester’s cultural offers.Manchester is unstoppable now.Every week another tower is announced.I am so glad that we finally have another British city other than London,with world ambitions.
By Elephant
Agree – Also need more family apartments! More doctors, more dentists – schools if its going to be a place where everyone can live as a community.
By Mary Smiley
This is the right place for towers so go for it.
I really think SimpsonHaugh should be doing something about River Street though before starting anything else!
By .
Retired people don#t want to live in city centres, they want to live in Cheshire or North Wales.
By Kayne
Kanye speaks for everyone who has retired.
By Elephant
Clusters of towers look better than individual slabs (Beetham & St Michael’s mark 2) etc which look like huge gravestones dropped randomly across the cityscape.
By Metromark
Awesome proposal and great to see a change of materials. Will be a nice juxtaposition with the Owen St development and bring a bit of warmth to the sterile glass of the other towers.
Manchester is on a completely different level at present, it has truly world class potential that only London can match in the UK. Let’s just hope we get some city centre parks some time soon….
By The Squirrel's Nuts
Really like these. While Renaker is the ASDA of developers, DeTrafford really is the Booths or Waitrose
By Mancunian
Isn’t it a bit early for the plaudits for DeTrafford? Not sure what they have actually delivered yet?? The test will be if the market will allow these buildings to be built – suggest they will need top pricing to be viable!
By Truth
Mancunian, while I agree that DeTrafford is the Waitrose or M&S of developers, I wouldn’t say Renaker is the ASDA. They’ve been building some incredibly high quality stuff recently – check out the cladding on Exchange Court and Owen St. Their schemes are of a high quality and contain a lot of amenities
By Anonymous
Renaker get on with it too. They have a very Victorian attitude to development. They don’t let anything stand in their way.
By Elephant
“In the planning statement, Paul Butler said that DeTrafford is currently preparing a development appraisal as to affordable housing and viability, which it will submit following the application.” – So, basically, once the development has been rubber stamped by the planning committee, the developers will turn round, plead poverty and say they can’t afford to include any affordable housing.
By Anothernon
I like the whole idea but hope to see these buildings look a bit more nicer to fit in with deans gate square next to them. They shouldn’t look out of place and should also look wow
By Anonymous