Two new towers and student digs that could ‘eclipse’ Victoria Baths: Key projects approved for Manchester

These were the main events discussed at the Manchester Planning and Highways Committee.

A 27-storey building and a major refurbishment of student accommodation are among applications approved by Manchester this week.

Plans for a number of major developments, totaling around 1,500 new homes, were submitted to the council’s planning and highways committee yesterday afternoon (November 21).

READ MORE: Five double vodkas and two pints of beer before the chaos began

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

The twelve-storey student accommodation will be built next to the Grade II* listed Victoria Baths.

Plans have been approved to demolish two of the six existing student accommodation buildings and extend four others on Hathersage Road. Empiric Student Property will build a new four-storey, twelve-storey building at Victoria Point, a student housing development centered around the Grade II* listed Victoria Thermal Baths.

The work will almost double Victoria Point’s capacity, bringing it to 876 beds in 694 self-contained two- to four-bedroom apartments.

The designs, presented to council by Bell Phillips and 5plus, include public terraces and ground-floor commercial space, which the applicant’s agent says will make it a “destination” for the surrounding area.

But the plans have been met with objections from local residents, with 18 objections received from neighbors over the loss of power and reaching a “tipping point” in student numbers that could “destabilize existing communities.”

Historic England also argued that the twelve-storey building would be “incongruous and conspicuous” next to the beautiful listed baths, detracting from its historical value. But council members ultimately decided the economic benefits and the provision of much-needed student housing outweighed the concerns.

The 28-storey building will bring more than 300 apartments to an empty field

A new high-rise building has been approved for Sparkle Street despite the objections of a local councilor and will “dominate” the village of Piccadilly.

The three-part block, which will comprise 10, 27 and 28 storeys, will feature 359 apartments, generating an estimated £22.3 million in value for the local economy. Developer Foras has also pledged £228,000 towards affordable housing in the town, although there will be no affordable homes in the building.

The development will create two new disabled spaces and a car club space, as well as 359 secure bicycle spaces, by relocating existing pay and display bays.

Local councilor John Connor Lyons said: “The scheme will dominate Piccadilly Village, which includes townhouses and high rise two or three storey apartments. (…) It throws (the surrounding) communities completely out of balance.”

Planners said there would be “noticeable impacts” on neighboring communities, but added they were “not unusual” in areas earmarked for city center regeneration, such as Piccadilly.

The application was adopted with only one vote against.

New Cheetham apartment block will change North Manchester skyline

A new 23-storey apartment building with almost 240 apartments will soon be built on Cheetham Hill Road. The £70 million project will create a “vibrant residential scheme” with a “positive social impact”, according to the developers of Zephyr X.

The tower will replace a vacant site that previously housed a car dealership and a car wash with 155 two-bedroom and 82 one-bedroom apartments, as well as a ground-floor shop or café, seating areas and bike storage. The applicant’s agent, Mr Cameron Radford, promised that local businesses would be given priority in the selection of commercial space and development.

Manchester councilors welcomed the “thoughtful” scheme “that could provide homes for families” and included details such as children’s play equipment on the roof terrace and a shared storage area for parcels.

Construction is due to begin in 2025, with the unit scheduled to open in 2027.

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

A decision to transform a historic Whalley Range site into a 35-home housing development has been deferred by the council.

Views Holdings Ltd wants to partially demolish the existing building at 136 Withington Road and will create 31 one- and two-bedroom apartments and four townhomes, two of which will have two bedrooms and two will have three bedrooms.

The plans, drawn up by Ollier Smurthwaite Architects, show the transformation of what was formerly known as the Nello James Centre, a public space named after political activist and leading figure of the Pan-African movement CLR James. According to the Views Holding agent, the building is currently in a “poor condition” and incidents of anti-social behavior are apparently common on the site.

Plans will include restoring much of the site and “compassionately expanding” it, the developers say.

But council members raised concerns about parking and tree planting and voted to visit the site before making a decision.