Hundreds of new Manchester city centre apartments set for go-ahead despite objections

Hundreds of apartments, rebuilt Victorian offices and student accommodation could be given the green light at Manchester’s planning meeting next week.

Plans for 485 flats in a 34-storey skyscraper set to tower over the Northern Quarter and Ancoats have been the subject of more than 200 objections.

A 15-storey block with 54 flats between the Northern Quarter and Piccadilly will also be considered by councillors on the planning committee at the meeting.

An application to demolish a Grade-II listed building, retaining its original Victorian façade, but replacing the rest with a new six-storey office block, is also on the agenda for the planning committee who will meet at the town hall.

And a controversial 261-bedroom student complex on the site of a former pub in Hulme could be approved despite protests about the plans one year ago.

There are nine applications in total on the agenda for the planning committee meeting on Tuesday 31 May – the first set to be held since the local elections.

The long list includes plans to extend a petrol station in Levenshulme, convert a salon in Fallowfield to a bar and a rooftop extension at On Bar in Canal Street.

Here are the major developments which are set to be approved next week.

34-storey block with 485 flats at Port Street, Northern Quarter

The plans for an apartment block peaking at 34 storeys on the corner of Great Ancoats Street has attracted 210 objections as well as 34 letters of support.

The ‘build to rent’ scheme, which includes co-working space and a residents’ gym, would be managed by Affinity Living, a subsidiary brand of Select.

No affordable housing would be built on the site, but the developer has offered to pay Manchester council £1,000,000 towards affordable homes elsewhere.

The objections relate to the design and scale of the skyscraper as well as the need for affordable housing, according to a report by council planning officers.

15-storey block with 54 flats in Store Street, Piccadilly

Another apartment block planned near the Northern Quarter would feature 54 flats over 15 floors alongside a lounge, terrace and office space for residents.

Only two parking spaces are planned as part of the scheme in Store Street, but there would one cycle parking space available for each apartment in the plans.

The M1 Piccadilly project would not feature any affordable housing, but the developer has offered to pay £125,000 towards affordable homes elsewhere.

A total of 31 objections were received in response to the proposal relating to the design and scale of the development and the lack of affordable housing and parking spaces in the scheme as well as the removal of 30 trees last year.

Office rebuild in Fountain Street, City Centre

The Grade-II listed office building which is currently used by law firm Hill Dickinson is due to be demolished – but the Victorian façade will be kept.

The work includes the demolition of a modern extension to the building, the refurbishment of the façade and the erection of a new six-storey office block.

The original entrance onto Spring Gardens is also set to be reinstated.

The new building would feature outdoor terraces, a cycle hub and yoga studio.

261-bedroom student complex in Boundary Lane, Hulme

Plans for student accommodation spanning 13 storeys have been the subject of protests, opposition from local organisations and a further 49 objections.

Resident-led campaign Block the Block staged a protest to the plans last year – and their opposition has been echoed by housing associations, a nearby GP practice, employees of Manchester University, a local councillor and the MP.

Their complaints claim there are already ‘far too many students’ in the area and the new ‘large’ student complex would not create ‘community cohesion’.

It comes after plans for the site of the former Gamecock which were smaller in scale were refused in 2008 and 2012 on the grounds of being ‘over-dominant’.

The planning committee will meet at the town hall at 2pm on Tuesday 31 May.