Inspector upholds Old Trafford hotel refusal
Developer Acre Manchester has lost an appeal against the council’s decision to reject plans for a Novotel on the corner of Chester Road and Warwick Road.
The planning inspectorate concluded that – while the 169-bedroom hotel scheme would “introduce a building of high quality” to the area – the harm the development would cause to residents of neighbouring properties was enough to uphold Trafford’s decision to refuse.
The inspector also refused Acre’s application for costs, saying the council had not acted unreasonably.
Trafford Council’s planning committee rejected the developer’s plans for the hotel in March 2022 against officers’ recommendations, prompting Acre to appeal.
The council had already successfully defended its decision to refuse a larger iteration of the project at appeal in 2021.
Following the first appeal, Acre, part of the Westcombe Group, submitted revised proposals for a scaled-back scheme.
Acre’s revised plans saw the scheme shrink from 16 to 10 storeys and had 21 fewer rooms.
Like the earlier proposal, the updated scheme included the demolition of the distinctive tinted office block at 701 Chester Road.
The project team for the scheme featured Stride Treglown as the architect, planner Brian Madge, Capita, M&E consultant WSP, Curtins as structural engineer, JGA Fire, SK Transport, Abricon and heritage architect Stephen Levrant.
So we are not allowed economic growth if it impacts on a load of two-storey home-owners. Great. What about the rest of us who want jobs and economic growth?
By Anonymous
It’s like we don’t want this country to get richer.
By Anonymous
Well done trafford council planners with the rejection, this is a stupid and so wrong development for that site ridiculous proposal
By Phil j
A modest building in a sustainable location. What’s the fuss about?
By Anonymous
What a shame – what next for this site and the those adjacent which are in an absolute state? This refusal doesn’t bode well for the waste ground opposite, the tumbledown building with the smashed windows. What about the jobs and wider regeneration this opportunity would bring? You can only assume that Trafford Council has a grand plan, but in the meantime the mind boggles…
By Pragmatist
Madness.
By Tom
It was committee rather than the planners on this one it seems
By Anon
Get some balconies on there so guests can enjoy the views of Chester Road
By Balcony Warrior
Not sure why all the outrage at this refusal. The site in question is extremely close to neighbouring residential properties, unlike the abandoned site across the road, which would be much more suited to this kind of proposal. Rampant gentrification up and down the country at the expense of local communities has not resulted in the economic growth for all that was initially touted. Well done Trafford council for standing their ground on this one. It’s a good design, but not for this plot.
By Anonymous
The development was not tall enough . New developments like this must be fifty storeys high or more to obtain Planning permission and make the best use of the site footprint.
By Paul griffiths
This was a excellent 5 star hotel development to bring back life to this dilapidated area.No thought has been made in this decision and will support their new design shortly.The country is going to go through the next few years with tough times ahead with no growth at all.
By Karl Jackson