PLANNING | Decisions for Unite, Realty, DeTrafford and Leftfield

Manchester City Council’s planning committee has approved a range of residential developments, two pending section 106 agreements with officers, but the DeTrafford Castlefield scheme has been referred for a site visit next month.

Thorncross Close off Ellesmere Street – No 1 Castlefield

Developer: DeTrafford

Architect: Ollier Smurthwaite

Apartments: 419

Retail: 32,200 sq ft

The meeting, chaired by Cllr David Ellison of Didsbury West, first addressed the No 1 Castlefield development. Cllr Hugh Barrett of Sharston put in a request to visit Thorncross Close off Ellesmere Street, claiming the framework did not fully show the relationship between the building and its surrounding area.

He said: “We would like to see what the site actually does in terms of its relationship with the area, and it would be in our best interests to see how it conforms to the requirements of the area. We would also like to see how traffic could be affected, too.”

The request was granted and the site will be visited next month, ahead of November’s planning committee.

1-5 Wakefield Street

Developer: Unite Students

Flats: 573 units

Floors: 30

Height: 92m

Architect: SimpsonHaugh

Unite’s design and planning manager Archie Fishlock said: “This development will act as catalyst to this area of the city and it will bring New Wakefield Street to life by opening up the street scene. We are keen to get construction started and are aiming for completion by the start of the 2020 academic year.”

Charleston’s Cllr Basil Curley requested “a bit more information on the impact on the Oxford Road Corridor in terms of traffic”, which Fishlock said would be provided.

The scheme was approved subject to a section 106 agreement with officers.

25 Rochdale Road

Developer: Realty Estates

Architect: Hodder + Partners

Floors: 15

Apartments: 100

An objector, who remained anonymous, said: “It’s a dense residential area which is already saturated with one and two-bedroom homes. We don’t need any more. What we do need is more family homes.”

Despite the objection, the application was approved, and an agent for Realty said: “We will include measures such as regular neighbourhood liaising. There is a clear need for owner-occupiers as opposed to build-to-rent.”

North View, Dantzic Street

Developer: Leftfield Investment Holdings

Height: 24, 15, 10, six floors

Apartments: 415

Commercial: 2,900 sq ft

Architect: SimpsonHaugh

Planner: Paul Butler Associates

Despite no objections, a planning officer said: “We’ve received late representation from the council’s strategic development team and it is essential the development makes the appropriate financial decisions for key infrastructure improvements.”

The scheme will be approved subject to a section 106 agreement with officers on the infrastructure improvements.

An agent for Leftfield said: “The team welcomes the recommendation of minded to approval pending the 106 agreements.”

102 Manchester Road, Chorlton

Developer: Retail Property Investments

Architect: DV Architects

Floors: 4

Apartments: 22

Planner: Paul Butler Associates

One objector said: “These [apartments] are the slums of the future. There is no domestic quality to the proposed elevations. Some people have said it looks more like prison.”

Applicant Abraham Halpern of Retail Property Investments said: “The current application represents the final piece in the jigsaw. A roof extension will allow for six more apartments of four two-bed and two one-bed apartments. This scheme will upgrade and create a modern appearance to the first and second floors.”

The original application that was approved in January was for 16 apartments. Along with the roof extension, the applicant submitted another application for its first floor restaurant to operate a takeaway service. Pizza Express has been confirmed as a pre-let tenant.

Cllr Sheila Newman of Chorlton said: “This an over development of the site. To add a four-storey extension with six additional flats seems unnecessary. I think the applicant is not thinking of the interests of the area but is actually thinking of maximum the return for this building.”

Newman also expressed concern regarding the added traffic that a takeaway service would bring. Planning officers supported Halpern’s claim that just 3% of takeaway customers would be likely to drive to the site for collection, instead using services such as Deliveroo to get their food.

Along with Cllr Newman, Cllr Curley did not give his support for the scheme. Despite the two objections, permission was approved, and work is likely to start next month.