Pomona Wharf flats plan submitted
Contractor Rowlinson and developer Peel have jointly submitted a planning application to Trafford Council to build 164 apartments next to the rail viaduct at the St George’s end of Pomona Island.
The Nicol Thomas-designed blocks of 11 and 10 storeys would occupy a site owned by Peel between Hulme Hall Road, and the Manchester Ship and Bridgewater canals. It is understood Peel would sell the site to Rowlinson if planning consent is granted. There would be 80 one-bed, 63 two-bed and 21 three-bed apartments. The designs include car parking, concierge, cycle storage, gym and green roof with solar panels.
The development will front the Manchester Ship Canal and be accessed through the second to bottom railway arch before the Bridgewater Canal.
Pomona Docks was a set of five docks on the Manchester Ship Canal. All the docks were filled after commercial activity ceased at the docks. The area has seen little redevelopment unlike other similar areas in Salford Quays.
Engineer Shepherd Gilmour is advising Rowlinson.
No one at Rowlinson was available to comment.
What a boring development. Now the canal tow paths have been refurbished it could be a fantastic area around Pomona, with the right masterplanning instead of boring commercial 10 storey blocks. I fear this will set the scene for more of the same and the opportunity will be lost.
By B
What about some lovely town houses?
By Bob Dawson
correction four docks have been filled in 1 remains linking the ship canal with the bridgewater via a modern lock
By don draper
Manchester’s rise has been an odd contradiction. Economically, it’s doing really well but so much of its new buildings in the last 15 years have been of low quality. There’s a real sameness to the architecture that won’t stand the test of time. Too many soulless and ugly developments value engineered to within an inch of their lives.
By Paul B
Reject this at all costs, what a waste of land with so much potential
By Rick
Paul B – couldn’t agree more. Is it perhaps more a case that most new builds anywhere (sadly) are poor quality, Manchester has just had a lot more new builds than most regional cities in the last 15 years; compounded by the fact that, for its size, Manchester actually fares pretty poorly for notable older architecture?
I.e. a bad new build in Manchester has less to counterbalance it than, say, a bad new build in Liverpool?
By mancboi
People are reacting against this because the buildings have the form of council blocks, not necessarily because they are bad architecture. Actually there are a decent number of 3 bed apartments, every flat looks to have a balcony and there is a decent amount of open space. There are much worse proposals out there.
By Trying to be objective
Sense of place takes a long time to develop and depends on more than just the architecture: topography; relationship between buildings and spaces; ‘liveability’; intimacy; even sense of wonder. Some places have more natural advantages: great rivers or mountains; or then they have a rich historic townscape. Manchester doesn’t have a great river, but it does have a decent river that it makes very little of. It also has a fine collection of old warehouses and mills which it should value more. The Catch 22 with Manchester is that it could be in danger of going too fast and building too much in a short time and in cramped spaces. Cities that evolve more slowly can sometimes fare better. I think a Manchester that becomes ever bigger and brasher could be in danger of overgrowing its site. The dispersal of density, activity and attractions around the towns of Greater Manchester might prove a more sustainable strategy for the long term. Manchester will be a more interesting place if it builds more on its history. It is the prototype industrial city. It is full of canals, small rivers and streams, it needs to open more of these up, make them accessible, and show how they helped the city grow. From there the sense of place could return and Manchester could become a much more attractive place to be.
By Paul Blackburn
I agree with most comments that this is a very boring structure.It appears that Trafford is as bad as Manchester when it comes to aesthetics. Very poor.
By Elephant
These are awful. As much of the area as possible should be kept as green space, so it can be used as a green retreat for residents and wildlife alike.
This area is a link between central Manchester and Salford Quays and could be a showpiece for the city. A botanical garden perhaps? Instead it will undoubtedly become poor quality flats designed to make the developers rich and will do nothing to help develop high quality leisure spaces in this area.
By Paul Crudgington
Who’s going to pay to turn it into green space? The land is privately owned!
By Green
Will anyone from Peel be living in these hutches? or are they all out in leafy Cheshire?
By Bugs Bunny
Planning Application details:
http://publicaccess.trafford.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=NP4716QLIYL00
By Vicky
Grim!
By JR
A chance to do something fantastic in Manchester will be lost with these dull buildings. We are supposed to be the up and coming Northern Power house. Sadly not with this poor showing.
By T.L.
All this development needs is The Garveys lying on sunbeds in front of it and you have the opening credits to Benidorm.
By Elephant