27-storey tower and student digs that could 'overshadow' Victoria Baths among key developments approved for Manchester

Manchester has given the green light to a 27-storey building and a significant revamp of a student accommodation complex.. The council's Planning and Highways Committee reviewed plans for several large developments, which will collectively bring about 1,500 new homes to the city, in their meeting on November 21.

These include a high-rise on Sparkle Street, behind Piccadilly Village, 237 apartments in Cheetham Hill, a residential development at the old Nello James building in Whalley Range, and the partial demolition and extension of Victoria Point in Ardwick. A proposal to demolish two out of six existing student accommodation buildings and extend four others on Hathersage Road has also been approved.

Empiric Student Property is set to construct a new four-storey and twelve-storey building at Victoria Point, a student apartment complex situated around the Grade II* listed Victoria Baths. The project will nearly double Victoria Point's capacity, accommodating 876 beds across 694 self-contained apartment units ranging from two to four-bedrooms.

Designs submitted by Bell Phillips and 5plus feature communal terraces and ground floor commercial space, which the applicant's agent believes will make it a 'destination' for the surrounding area.

Local residents raised 18 objections against the proposed construction of a twelve-storey building, citing concerns over loss of light and an influx of students potentially 'destabilising existing communities'. Historic England also weighed in, describing the structure as 'incongruous and conspicuous' beside the neighbouring listed baths, potentially diminishing its historical significance, reports the Manchester Evening News.

However, councillors ultimately ruled that the economic advantages and the need for student housing took precedence.

In another development, plans for a towering 28-storey building on Sparkle Street have been given the green light, despite a local councillor's warning that it would 'dominate' the adjacent Piccadilly Village. The three-part complex, consisting of sections reaching 10, 27, and 28 storeys, is set to deliver 359 new apartments and is expected to contribute approximately £22.3m to the local economy.

Foras, the developers behind the project, have committed £228,000 towards affordable housing within the city, although the highrise itself will not include any affordable units.

The scheme also includes the creation of two new disabled parking bays and a car club space, achieved by relocating current pay and display spots, in addition to providing 359 secure spaces for bicycles. Local councillor Jon Connor Lyons expressed his concerns, stating: "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 have acknowledged that there 'will be noticeable impacts' on neighbouring communities from a new development, but they argue these are 'not unusual' in areas designated for city centre regeneration such as the Piccadilly area. The application was approved with only one vote against it.

A new 23-storey apartment block is set to alter the North Manchester skyline as Cheetham Hill Road becomes home to nearly 240 apartments. The £70m project, led by developers Zephyr X, promises to deliver a 'vibrant residential scheme' with 'a positive social impact'.

The tower will replace a vacant plot previously occupied by a car showroom and hand car wash, offering 155 two-bedroom and 82 one-bedroom flats, along with a ground floor shop or cafe, amenity areas and bike storage. The applicant's agent, Mr Cameron Radford, assured that local businesses would be prioritised for the commercial space and construction.

Manchester councillors praised the 'considered' scheme 'that could provide homes for families', noting features like children's play equipment on the roof terrace and a shared parcel storage area. Construction is slated to begin in 2025, with the opening of the block scheduled for 2027.

Meanwhile, a decision to transform a historic site in Whalley Range into a housing complex featuring 35 homes has been deferred by the council.

Views Holdings Ltd has proposed to partially demolish the existing building at 136 Withington Road, with plans to construct 31 one and two-bedroom apartments and four townhouses. Two of these houses will have two bedrooms, while the other two will feature three bedrooms.

The designs, drafted by Ollier Smurthwaite Architects, depict a transformation of the former Nello James Centre, a community space named after historian and political activist C. L.R. James.

Currently, the building is in a 'state of disrepair', as described by an agent for Views Holding, with frequent instances of antisocial behaviour reported on the site. The developers' plans include restoring much of the site and 'sympathetically extending' it.

However, councillors have expressed concerns over parking and tree planting, deciding to visit the site before making a final decision.