Hotspur Press proposals head to committee

Along with close to 600 student bedspaces close to Oxford Road station, Manchester City Council will also consider Jadebricks’ 15-storey PBSA plans for Charles Street, with both tipped to advance.

London-based developer Manner submitted its plans for the Hotspur Press site, which has long taxed developers, last year. In its debut Manchester project, the firm proposes a scheme reaching up to 37 storeys, intending to retain the historic press building’s façade.

The Manner project, on which Hodder + Partners is architect, comes five years after plans by Elmloch for a 171-home, 28-storey residential complex on the site were put forward but not enacted. Consultation took place last year.

Manner said the development, at a high-profile Cambridge Street plot close to Oxford Road station amid a raft of recent PBSA schemes, would be managed by student sector specialist Fresh, and will include a square opening out onto First Street.

Planning officers are minded to approve. There are eight objections, while Manchester Metropolitan University said it will not back the scheme due to less than 20% of units being made available at discounted rent.

Under the plans, permission is sought for the partial demolition of the Hotspur Press complex in a part four/five storey and part-37 storey scheme.

The interiors of the 1801 mill and 1882 curved wing would be removed, while the original façade of the 1801 mill building and 1902 Percy Brothers signage would be sensitivity repaired and restored. All facades to the curved 1882 wing would be retained and repaired. New windows would be installed in the retained elevations.

The north elevation of the 1801 building could become unstable, so it will be dismantled and reconstructed like-for-like. All the single-storey sheds to the east, north and west would be demolished.

According to the officer report, the development would comprise 595 student bedrooms in a mix of studio and four-, five- and seven-cluster apartments. There would be 253 clusters and 342 studios. Turley is the planning consultant for the project.

Jadebricks’ Charles Street project will be determined after a site visit. Credit: Our Studio

Jadebricks’ proposals for a 15-storey, 107-bed development on Charles Street were deferred for a site visit in March. The plans have attracted 16 objections, including two from businesses adjoining the site – a nursery and an MOT garage.

Turley is again the planner, with SimpsonHaugh as architect.

The site, close to Circle Square at the former BBC complex, is bounded by Charles Street, a railway viaduct, Bracken House and York Street. It was cleared in the 1960 and has been used as a 15-space car park, currently being used s a compound for works at Bracken House.

The nursery in Bracken House has an external play area between the building and this site – the applicant has, said officers, put forward solutions for access to the nursery while works take place.

Offering a ‘minded to approve’ verdict, officers described the proposals as bringing into positive use a poor quality brownfield plot in an “optimal” location for PBSA.

Manner’s reference number on the Manchester planning portal is 138805/FO/2023, and Jadebricks’ 138808/FO/2023. The planning committee meets on Thursday 30 May.