Manchester developments: Two new towers and student accommodation that could 'overshadow' Victorian baths

Plans for a number of large developments, totalling around 1,500 new homes, came before the council’s Planning and Highways Committee this afternoon (November 21).

These included a high-rise on Sparkle Street, behind Piccadilly Village, 237 apartments in Cheetham Hill, a residential development in the old Nello James building in Whalley Range and the partial demolition and extension of Victoria Point in Ardwick.

Twelve-storey student accommodation block to go up next to Grade II* listed Victoria Baths

A plan to demolish two of six existing student accommodation buildings and extend four others on Hathersage Road have been approved. Empiric Student Property will build a new four-storey and twelve-storey building at Victoria Point, an student apartment complex clustered around the Grade II* listed Victoria Baths.

The works will almost double Victoria Point’s capacity, bringing it to 876 beds across 694 self-contained apartment units ranging from two to four-bedrooms.

Designs submitted to the council by Bell Phillips and 5plus include communal terraces and ground floor commercial space, which the applicant’s agent claims will make it a ‘destination’ for the surrounding area.

But the plans were met with objection from locals, with 18 objections received from neighbours over loss of light and hitting a ‘tipping point’ of student numbers that could ‘destabilise existing communities’.

Historic England also argued the twelve-storey building would be ‘incongruous and conspicuous’ next to the beautiful listed baths, detracting from its historical value. But councillors ultimately decided that the economic benefit and provision of much-needed student accommodation outweighed concerns.

28-storey building to bring more than 300 apartments to vacant field

A new highrise building was approved on Sparkle Street despite objections by a local councillor it would ‘dominate’ nearby Piccadilly Village.

The three-part block, which will be 10, 27 and 28-storeys, will provide 359 apartments and add an estimated £22.3m to the local economy. The developers, Foras, also pledged £228,000 towards affordable housing in the city – though there’ll be no affordable homes in the building.

There will be two new disabled bays and a car club space created as part of the development through the relocation of existing pay and display spots, alongside 359 secure cycle spaces.

Local councillor Jon Connor Lyons said: “This scheme will dominate Piccadilly Village, which comprises townhouses and up-and-down flats at two or three storeys. […] This completely knocks off balance the communities of [the surrounding area].”

Planning officers noted there ‘will be noticeable impacts’ on neighbouring communities, but added that these were ‘not unusual’ in areas earmarked for city centre regeneration such as the Piccadilly area.

The application was passed with just one vote against it.

New Cheetham apartment block will change North Manchester skyline

Cheetham Hill Road is about to become home to a new 23-storey apartment block with almost 240 apartments. The £70m project will deliver a ‘vibrant residential scheme’ with ‘a positive social impact’, according to developers Zephyr X.

The tower would replace a vacant plot that was previously home to a car showroom and hand car wash with 155 two-bedroom and 82 one-bedroom flats, as well as a ground floor shop or cafe, amenity areas and bike storage. The applicant’s agent Mr Cameron Radford promised local businesses would be prioritised for the commercial space and construction.

Manchester councillors welcomed the ‘considered’ scheme ‘that could provide homes for families’ and included details like children’s play equipment on the roof terrace and a shared parcel storage area.

Construction is due to start in 2025, with the opening of the block set for 2027.

Historic building in Whalley Range to be transformed as part of housing development

A decision to transform a historic site in Whalley Range into a housing complex featuring 35 homes was deferred by the council.

Views Holdings Ltd wants to partially knock-down the existing building at 136 Withington Road and create 31 one and two-bedroom apartments and four townhouses, two of which would feature two bedrooms and two with three bedrooms.

Plans drawn up by Ollier Smurthwaite Architects show a transformation of what used to be known as the Nello James Centre, a community space named after political activist and leading figure in the PanAfrican movement C.L.R. James. The building is currently in a ‘state of disrepair’ according to an agent for Views Holding, with instances of antisocial behaviour apparently common on the site.

The plans will include restoring much of the site and ‘sympathetically extending’ it, according to developers.

But councillors raised concerns over parking and tree planting and voted to visit the site before making a decision.