Third time is lucky for £154m Port Street tower  

Having reduced the height of the development by a single storey, Affinty Living has been given the go-ahead for the 481-home project by Manchester City Council. 

The developer’s 33-storey Port Street tower had twice been refused by the city council’s planning committee but prevailed this afternoon by seven votes to three. 

The developer, part of Select Property Group, reduced the height of the £154m development from 34 storeys in a bid to win planning consent. The loss of one storey brings the scheme in line with the strategic regeneration framework for the area. 

Designed by SimpsonHaugh Architects, the development also features an 11-storey block. The shorter element fronts Great Ancoats Street, while the tower portion faces Port Street. 

Deloitte Real Estate is the planning consultant for the project, and Re:form is the landscape architect.  

“Select Property has developed an outstanding reputation for delivering some of the city’s best build-to-rent accommodation such as Embankment West home to Laurence Place and Exchange Point,” said Adam Price, chief executive of Select Property.

“Now, work can begin on Port Street, a site that was long overdue for significant investment and promises to deliver the very best apartments the city has to offer, creating a vibrant community.  The plans will marry this desirable location with a superb product that responds to its surroundings, bringing together Piccadilly, Ancoats and the Northern Quarter.”

At the same meeting, Dandara’s plans for a build-to-rent development in Didsbury were refused in line with officers’ recommendations. 

The 75-home Blackbird Yard, designed by Hodder + Partners, attracted the ire of the city’s planners due to a lack of car parking. 

Hodder + Partners is the architect for Blackbird Yard. Credit: via planning documents