REIP doubles down on Thomas Street demolition plans 

The developer has resubmitted applications to knock down a clutch of grade two-listed buildings and restore another to facilitate the creation of the controversial 20-home Warp & Weft scheme in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. 

Real Estate Investment Partnerships has again requested permission to demolish the listed former weavers’ cottages on Thomas Street, claiming retaining them would make the project unviable. 

Plans to demolish the vacant buildings were refused last year by Manchester City Council and the developer has lodged an appeal against that decision. 

REIP maintains that the demolition of the listed Thomas Street buildings is “crucial” to facilitate the retention and restoration of the grade two-listed 7 Kelvin Street, which forms part of the development site. 

The redevelopment of the wider application site will “directly generate the funds necessary to refurbish 7 Kelvin Street and deliver it back into active use”, according to a planning statement prepared by consultancy WSP. 

The statement adds that those funds would not be realised if the listed Thomas Street buildings are retained. 

An application to convert 7 Kelvin Street into three apartments has also been resubmitted after planning consent for the work lapsed. 

REIP triggered the original consent for the project, which was granted in 2017 before the weavers’ cottages were listed, by installing a drainage pipe on part of the site earlier this year. 

Jon Matthews Architects designed the scheme.