PLANNING | Towers approved at Manchester committee

Renaker’s Crown Street tower scheme, the reworked proposal by Unite at New Wakefield Street and the development of 550 apartments at the former Boddington’s brewery site all secured consent at a largely undramatic June planning committee.

Of the schemes that went before committee where officers were either minded to approve or recommended approval, most sailed through the process without any undue fuss.

Boultbee Brooks’ plans to redevelop 79 Mosley Street in an office-led scheme with retail and leisure at ground floor, where the interiors will be demolished, was the only scheme where serious debate took place, with Historic England present in the room to outline its objection to the scheme. The project won through by eight votes to six.

Set to reach 51 storeys, Crown Street is the next major step forward for the re-drawn Great Jackson Street masterplan area, which will house much of the city’s high-rise development in the coming years.

Rachel Poole, assistant director at Deloitte Real Estate, said: “The Crown Street proposals will develop a strategic site in one of the city’s key regeneration areas. The area is witnessing a complete transformation and the redevelopment of the site will help to connect communities in the city centre, Castlefield and Hulme.

“There are a number of existing and proposed tall buildings and the proposal for two tall, high quality buildings would add to the cluster in this area creating a distinctive, varied and exciting skyline.” Renaker is due to start on site later this summer.

At the Boddington’s site, a start on site in the second quarter of 2019 is the aim. Ed Fowkes, development director at Prosperity, said: “Securing planning for Old Brewery Gardens is a momentous occasion for us as a business.

“By offering for sale homes, as well as high-quality, professionally managed rental apartments, alongside generous amenities, we can create homes for a range of prospective residents, all with differing demands and expectations. We understand that a catch-all housing solution won’t cut it for the booming regional cities and to continue growing, they need top drawer housing.”

Approved

79 Mosley Street

Developer: Boultbee Brooks Real Estate

Architect: PRP

Planner: Zerum

Scheme: Boultbee Brooks, also behind Core in Brown Street and Mosley Street’s Hyphen, submitted plans in January for 19,000 sq ft of offices on upper floors and around 8,000 sq ft of flexible/retail space at ground and lower ground floor level.

55 Portland Street

Developer: Property Alliance Group/Clayton Hotel

Architect: Stephenson Studio

Planner: GVA How Planning

Scheme: Irish hotel group Dalota four-star Clayton brand will occupy the former office site with a 329-bedroom hotel. Construction is already underway on a smaller hotel on the adjacent plot.

Crown Street

Developer: Renaker

Architect: SimpsonHaugh & Partners

Planner: Deloitte

Floors: 51, 21

Apartments: 664

Scheme: The masterplan for the Great Jackson Street gateway area was refreshed in late 2017, setting a planning context for intensive development of residential towers. This scheme is at Plot C, where the Mancunian Way joins Chester Road.

Cornbrook Hub

Glenbrook’s PRS buildings, designed by Sheppard Robson

Developer: Glenbrook, Peel

Architect: Sheppard Robson, Leach Rhodes Walker

Planner: GVA How Planning

Floors: 11-15

Number of apartments: 280

Number of hotel beds: 242 

Scheme: Glenbeook’s 280-apartment PRS scheme, designed by Sheppard Robson, is to be built in two buildings of 14 and 15 storeys each and has been granted full planning permission. Peel’s part of the scheme, a 155-bedroom hotel and an 88-unit aparthotel, has secured outline consent.

1-5 New Wakefield Street

Developer: Unite Students

Architect: SimpsonHaugh & Partners

Planner: Turley

Floors: 32

Number of apartments: 603

Scheme: Initial plans were put forward in July 2017 and approved in December, the scheme was resubmitted in April with two additional storeys. Approval subject to signing of a legal agreement in relation to infrastructure improvements.

Old Brewery Gardens – former Boddingtons Brewery

Developer: Prosperity Capital Partners

Architect: Assael

Planner: Deloitte

Floors: 26, 23, 17, 12

Apartments: 556

Commercial space: 38,000 sq ft

Scheme: Two buildings, one partly 26 storeys and partly 23 storeys, to be built on the eastern section of the former brewery site. Approval is subject to the signing of a section 106 agreement in relation to a pedestrian crossing across New Bridge Street and a financial contribution to offsite affordable housing.