Manchester rejects 319 homes, approves 65
Parking concerns proved the downfall of McLaren Property’s student resi project, while Anwyl Homes’ plans for a series of houses in Chorlton sailed through.
Fans of grocery store chain Lidl will have to wait for a verdict on the supermarket’s expansion into Chorlton after the application as deferred.
It took Manchester City Council’s planning committee more than three hours to wade through 13 applications during Thursday’s meeting. During the session, two high-profile projects received green lights: Bruntwood’s £31m low-carbon Ev0 office and Trilogy Real Estate and Peterson Group’s £213m Great Northern revamp.
There were three other sizeable applications voted on as well. Here’s a look at how each of these fared.
St Gabriel’s Lodge redevelopment
The planning committee voted to reject McLaren Property’s plans for 319 student bedrooms on the site of St Gabriel’s Lodge off Oxford Road – against officer recommendation.
Designed by SimpsonHaugh, the project would have seen the construction of a pair of four-storey apartment blocks and a refurbished St Gabriel’s Hall and Woodthorpe Hall. Altogether, these buildings would offer 217 studios and 102 cluster bedrooms.
The development was meant to be car-free, due to its location to public transit. Proposals did include 18 visitor spaces, though.
In the end, it was parking that proved to be the contentious issue for the council. Councillors felt there was not enough consideration towards students who may have a disability and would thus require parking.
Councillors voted that they were minded to refuse the application and encouraged McLaren and planning consultants Avison Young to revisit the parking situation before the application returned to the committee for a final verdict.
The application’s reference number with Manchester City Council is 135278/FO/2022.
The proposed supermarket would have a 14,000 sales area plus car parking. Credit: via Lidl
Chorlton Lidl
After a robust discussion highlighting traffic safety concerns, councillors opted to defer a vote on a new Lidl at 550 Mauldeth Road West until a site visit could be conducted.
Rapleys had submitted the application on Lidl UK’s behalf. The project would involve the demolition of Lowry House, a former Carillion office block.
The proposed Lidl would be 22,000 sq ft and sit off the junction of Mauldeth Road West and Nell Lane. It would have an in-store bakery and 88 car parking spaces.
Councillors noted that Nell Lane is currently used by many as a “rat run”, which could make the addition of a supermarket unsafe. The shop would also be situated near Chorlton High School.
Space Architects designed the Lidl. Those looking to learn more about the project can see its application by using reference number 135647/FO/2022 with Manchester City Council.
Astle Planning and Design worked with Anwyl on the design of the project. Credit: via planning documents
Land to the rear of 354 Wilbraham Road
Councillors also weighed in on another Chorlton project – Anwyl Homes’ plans for 65 houses off Wilbraham Road. Unlike the deferred Lidl, this one received a verdict relatively quickly – with councillors minded to approve the application.
Anwyl Homes is working with Greater Manchester Youth Federation, which owns the nearly 5-acre site, on the project.
The project calls for a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom houses. Of the 65 proposed, 13 are set to be designated affordable, with seven listed as socially rented and six as affordable intermediate homes.
There will be 148 car parking spaces available for residents, and each home would have the capability for electric vehicle charging.
Asteer Planning is the planning consultant for the project.
You can learn more about the scheme by using reference number 135604/FO/2022 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.
There’s never enough parking in new schemes
By Phi
Rejected due to not enough parking spaces. Do Manchester’s councillors live in the 1970s?
By Anonymous
MCC’s obsession with more parking is just going to make their job to improve active travel even harder. One vision is all locals ask for.
By Anonymous
1970s? More people drive than ever, students are incresingly bringing their cars to university
By Anonymous
137 studios and 102 cluster bedrooms = 319 beds??
Looks like it’s:
237 studios and 102 cluster bedrooms = 339 beds
18 parking spaces is just over 5% of the beds, which seems reasonable. So, I’m sure it will be helpful if MCC indicate what ratio they think maybe required for disabled parking, staff, and visitors.
By Anon
Hi Anon, I’ve fixed the numbers – the office report is a bit all over the place with the 137 and 102 figures, but the planning statement, design & access, and application form have the correct 217 studio, 102 cluster bedroom breakdown. – J
By Julia Hatmaker
Absolutely ridiculous. Provision for disability is valid concern but that hall is a three minute drive from the university. Not to mention the fact that you can’t even drive up Oxford road. Busiest bus route in Europe etc. You could build an apartment block on rails into Piccadilly and it would be turned down because it didn’t have parking. The mind is boggles at the stupidity of a public body that wants to make the city an active travel and public transport wonderland but actively frustrates its own ambition to do so.
By HW
The reason town centres such as Chorlton die is because planners allow schemes like this Lidl out of town . This is a residential site . The Lidl should be in the town centre near the old shopping centre or in it !
By Ian hall
Hi Ian – as the story notes, the Lidl has not been approved. The application has been deferred until the council can conduct a site visit. – J
By Julia Hatmaker
The late representation to Committee clarified the parking numbers.
By Anonymous