Nobu skyscraper: Future of Manchester's new tallest tower in doubt as planning blunder sees row erupt
The future of Manchester’s tallest tower is in doubt as Manchester council will re-assess its planning permission.
Plans to build a 76-storey skyscraper with 452 flats and a 160-bedroom Nobu hotel behind the Manchester Central convention centre were approved last month by Manchester council’s planning committee.
The 246m-tall building, formerly called Viadux 2a and now named Nobu Manchester, will be the city’s tallest once it’s complete, overtaking the 200m-high Deansgate Square South Tower and under-construction ‘Plot D’ block, set to be 213m in height.
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“As the location of not just the tallest tower outside London but a large number of high quality affordable homes, Viadux has the potential to become a symbol of this city’s aspirations and confidence in itself,” said developer Salboy’s Simon Ismail after getting planning permission.
“Viadux now promises to shape not only Manchester’s skyline for years to come, but the city’s sense of identity on the global stage.”
But the planning application will be reconsidered in full by the council next week after an administrative error meant a key body was not properly consulted in the process, and submitted an ‘objection which presented new information’ after approval.
Charity the Music Venue Trust (MVT) said the building could impact a nearby gig venue, Rebellion.
“It is a long-established Mancunian cultural space, being a home for live music since 2013 and hosting in excess of 220 events annually,” a council report said. “It continues to be an important hub of grassroots music and cultural activity, and as such is a member of their Music Venue Alliance.
“Rebellion’s operators must be actively included, and venue operations appropriately surveyed, as without consideration of the venue this proposal would have an adverse impact on the cultural organisation’s ongoing viability and would result in homes with unacceptable amenity and quality.”
A similar error occurred for another bid to build a city centre tower which was approved at the same April 10 meeting.
Developer Glenbrook will go back to the council chamber to seek permission for its £118m skyscraper on Whitworth Street West, opposite Deansgate Locks. The 44-storey tower will ‘push the boundaries of city-centre living’, the firm claims, featuring terracotta-coloured cladding and a series of arches at street level.
Again, the Music Venue Trust was not consulted which meant ‘key factors such as worst-case noise scenarios, audience attendance numbers and venue operation timings, which include live music and DJ events throughout the week, have not been taken into account’, the council report explained.
It added: “Given the absence of engagement with Rebellion operators in previous noise assessments, MVT believes that further acoustic testing should be undertaken, and in active collaboration with the venue operators and MVT to ensure its robustness.
“MVT stresses the importance of noise conditions on any consent to allow for reassessment and design of mitigation to ensure that the venue is not threatened by noise complaints in the future, and how critical it is to involve the venue operators and MVT in that process.
United Utilities also ‘object to the application as it appears to be located above their combined sewer, which they will not permit building over’, the document continued, but said Glenbrook ‘is in contact with UU in order to reach a resolution to their objection’.
Both applications will be heard in full again, the Local Democracy Reporting Service understands, and both are again recommended for planning approval.
Manchester council’s planning committee will take place at 2pm on Thursday, May 29. You can watch online here.