Latest Manchester planning: Skyscrapers on old car park, new Lidl, bulldozing B&M, and pub transformation

Ram Mill in Chadderton has already been part-renovated, but new plans would see space in the former cotton mill turned into hotel rooms and apartments. The proposal also has dedicated ‘flexible work areas’ and common spaces.

Over in Audenshaw, plans for the new Lidl to replace a restaurant have ramped up even further. With demolition for the Indian restaurant approved, Lidl have now submitted an outline application for a new foodstore in the town.

Here is a breakdown of each borough’s recently submitted public notices…

Bury: Millions to be spent on ‘access’ business case for massive Northern Gateway employment park

A contract for nearly £3m has been awarded for a ‘western access’ project to pave the way for the massive Northern Gateway employment park.

Bury council’s cabinet this week allocated £2.83m to cover the finalising an outline business case for the scheme. The Northern Gateway project is set to become one of the largest employment hubs in the region, driving substantial investment and up to 10,000 jobs into Greater Manchester. 

It also promises new homes straddling areas of Bury and Rochdale along the M60, M62 and M66 corridors. It features proposals for 6.5 million sqft of industrial space for the advanced manufacturing, industrial, and logistical sectors. 

Outline planning permission for the scheme is currently being determined by both Bury and Rochdale councils.

Manchester: The ugly car park to be replaced by skyscrapers celebrating nearby architecture

An ugly car park that dominated Manchester’s landscape is set to be replaced by skyscrapers celebrating an architectural gem.

The Charles Street multi-storey is set to be demolished under the £1.7b ‘Sister’ development plan for the university’s North Campus and replaced by a tower block. The part-38, part-10, and part-eight storey building will contain 1,041 student bedrooms and commercial units on the ground floor, developer RG Real Estate says.

Its white facades were inspired by nearby listed modernist icon, the Renold Building, with other elements nodding to the French renaissance-style Sackville Building around the corner, architect Stephen Hodder told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Oldham: Former mill could be turned into hotel and co-working space

A novel new project could see an old mill building in Oldham spruced up into a new ‘co-working’ hotel. Ram Mill in Chadderton has already been part-renovated, with a business park on its lower levels and several vacant floors above.

But a new plan by Ram Mill LLP would see the former cotton mill’s second, third and fourth floors turned into 75 double hotel bedrooms and 105 flexible aparthotel units. A proposal submitted to the town hall includes dedicated ‘flexible work areas’ and common spaces.

Guests would have access to already existing facilities at the historic site, which includes a gym and business community. The mill on Gordon Street is surrounded mostly by commercial units and backs onto a wastewater treatment plant.

Rochdale: Plans to transform pub into a new nursery tabled

The Bird at Birtle pub, also known as Bird Ith Hand, could soon be turned into a children’s day nursery.

Heaton Park View Nursery Limited wants to transform the vacant pub on Bury and Rochdale Old Road into a day nursery for children aged up to five. The proposal for the Heywood pub would see the interior changed and outdoor play areas built within a reconfigured car park.

The applicants say the change from night activity to purely daytime use would be better for the local community. 

Tameside: New Lidl foodstore plans take a step forward

Audenshaw could be welcoming a new Lidl foodstore by the end of the decade.

The Tameside town is set to welcome the discount supermarket after Lidl bosses revealed their intention to build a new site where The Pearl Restaurant currently resides.

Now planning permission to demolish the Manchester Road restaurant has been granted by Tameside Council, Lidl has submitted an outline application to build the new store.

Mottram-in-Longdendale/Hollingworth, Tameside

Planned road layout changes will take place on Roe Cross Road & A57 Mottram Moor. The preliminary works are part of a wider project to build two new link roads between Manchester and Sheffield.

Works expected to last until January 31, 2028.

Trafford: Plans to bulldoze B&M store to make way for block of apartments

Plans to demolish a B&M store in Sale in order to build a five and six-storey block for 69 apartments have been submitted.

An outline planning application has been tabled for the site on Broad Road by Jersey-based Ropley Holdings Ltd.

Agent, DPP Planning says the proposal is to regenerate the brownfield site, currently occupied by the store, to create a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments along with residential amenity space.

Ropley has been in discussion with Trafford council’s planning team over the redevelopment of the site for several months, a design and access statement from DPP says.