Yo Homes shelves Old Mill Street plans
Yo Homes has withdrawn a planning application for a six-storey, 40-apartment project on the site which has been proposed for development since 2016.
Yo Homes, part of the Yo Company which operates the Yo Sushi chain, first submitted plans for the Old Mill Street site opposite the Ancoats Dispensary in New Islington in summer 2016. This proposal featured a six-storey building of 24 apartments, designed by architect Glen Howells, and was to be the developer’s first housing project.
This was first refused by Manchester City Council planners in August, but returned to committee for approval in September 2016; councillors gave the project the green light after they claimed issues over parking and affordability were resolved.
However, the proposal was never progressed, and Yo Homes submitted an updated planning application for the site in July this year. This followed a redesign offering different apartment sizes, and an updated construction methodology focussed on modular delivery.
Again designed by Glenn Howells, this features 40 apartments, split across two sizes – the ‘large’ apartments are 538 sq ft, while the ‘small’ homes are 398 sq ft. The concept features a shared living and sleeping area; the seating furniture can be recessed into the floor void and a bed can lower down from a concealed space in the ceiling.
To the exterior, the proposals include a dark grey high-pressure laminate cladding with aluminium window frames.
Despite progressing with an updated design, the planning application was withdrawn by Yo Homes on 5 November this year, putting the future of the development in doubt. Glenn Howells was working on the project with a professional team including Bennett Williams, design partner Brilliant Stages, quantity surveyor Production Park, structural engineer HRW, acoustic consultant Hawksmoor Engineering, and fire consultant Jeremy Gardner Associates.
Perhaps they could use the folding wonders to provide normal-sized flat with more efficient space, rather than using it to get away with even smaller boxes.
By Yo!
Good! Crap proposal in completely the wrong location
By Steve
They call it New Islington, but it’s Ancoats! and a notorious council estate.
By PDM