PLANNING | Manchester approves Noma offices
The city council also signed off plans for an Aldi in New Moston – but YHG will have to wait until after a site visit for a result on its request to build 716 homes and a secondary school on the former Jacksons Brickworks site.
Concerns over the safety of schoolchildren led councillors to request a site visit on the Your Housing Group proposal, which had been recommended for approval by Manchester City Council planning officers.
While YHG sits in limbo, proposals from Aldi and Federated Hermes and MEPC can move forward after the council’s planning committee meeting on Thursday. Here is a bit more about each of the projects progressing.
Cartwright Pickard designed the two Noma offices. Credit: Virtual Planit
Noma offices
It took less than ten minutes for Manchester City Council to give the Federated Hermes and MEPC plans the green light.
The application was to build 2 and 3 Angel Square, two offices building that would create a combined 440,000 sq ft of Grade A office space in the city’s Noma district.
Designed by Cartwright Pickard, the buildings range from 14 storeys in height to 13 storeys. 2 Angel Square is the taller of the two, with nearly 200,000 sq ft of offices and 17,200 sq ft of potential commercial space.
While shorter, 3 Angel Square is the larger of the two with more than 240,000 sq ft of offices and nearly 23,000 sq ft of commercial space.
The development includes potential for a rooftop restaurant.
Both office buildings are being designed to meet a BREEAM Outstanding standard.
This push for sustainability has been key to the design, according to Cartwright Pickard founding director Peter Cartwright.
“This proposal has been driven from the outset by its context and an ambition to create the next generation in sustainable office development,” Cartwright said.
“Through thorough analysis and regular dialogue with Manchester City Council, we believe 2 and 3 Angel Square will be positive additions to the area, working harmoniously with the historic fabric of the NOMA heritage estate area, but also as a striking, contemporary intervention in the NOMA masterplan.”
Remarking on the planning approval, Dan Hyde, development director at MEPC, said: “This is a fantastic step forward for Noma and a huge vote of confidence in our vision for a people-focused city centre neighbourhood which celebrates Manchester’s rich heritage while embracing innovation and sustainability.
“There is a real need for high-quality office spaces in central Manchester, but it’s key that these spaces provide sustainable working environments and green areas in order to attract and retain the next generation of occupiers – this is exactly what these buildings and the surrounding Noma estate provides.”
Deloitte is the planning consultant for the scheme. Planit-IE is the landscape architect.
The application’s reference number is 134307/FO/22.
Work on 2 and 3 Angel Square is set to begin upon the completion of 4 Angel Square, which is being built by Bowmer + Kirkland.
The Manchester Aldi site sits just inside the M60. Credit: planning documents
Aldi foodstore
Aldi received the go-ahead for its plans to build a 21,000 sq ft store on more than two acres off Victoria Avenue East in New Moston.
The building of the store will require the demolition of the Imperial Lounge Restaurant, which currently sits on the site.
When the Aldi is built, the store would have 119 parking spaces for customers and staff to use.
In order to help with traffic, the proposal also includes plans to build a new vehicular access for the North Manchester Rugby Club which sits next door.
Aldi estimated it could open the store within 18 months.
The Harris Partnership is aiding Aldi in the project. Avison Young is the planning consultant. The project team also includes BWB, Cameron Rose Associates, Integra Consulting, Earth Environmental, Watt Energy, and Collington Winter.
The application’s reference number is 133148/FO/22.
Only Manchester Planning Committee would come up with a feeble reason for a site visit on a scheme with over 350 affordable homes in it.
Dealing with school safety should be part of the application for the school – when it comes forward!
By Anonymous
They will fill up in no time, I guarantee it
By ChorltonRed
Dont know why they couldnt build one tower then with the remaining land use it as a park
By Dg
Bet the view out the window between the red and blue buildings will be great!!!
By Levelling Up Manager
Those Noma offices are a both really dismal looking.
1 Angel Square looks fantastic; these do not!
By 1981
Dg, it would be too windy, towers in Manchester shouldn’t be allowed as they create awful winds, it’s truly grim around Deansgate Square, imagine a whole city like that, unusable
By DH
Deansgate Square has been very useable everytime I’ve been there
By CG