Plans for the construction of three towers are to go before Manchester Council’s planning committee next week.
The towers, to be built, around the area by Great Jackson Street will consist of a thirty, eighteen and twenty six storey block standing behind the Owen Street development to the West of Deansgate that is currently under construction and will once again overlook the Castlefield Conservation Area.
The plans consist of around four hundred homes as well as retirement living accomodation and commercial space and are being proposed by the Alderley Edge based developer De Trafford Estates Group.
According to the plans, The buildings would have brick façades in a grid pattern with double height and width glazed bays at the ground and first floors. The upper floors of the towers would also be defined by double height and width glazed bays.
The three towers would be built on the site of the former Olympia trading estate, where a four-storey building, which includes a car wash, would be demolished to make way for the scheme.
Manchester Conservation Areas and Historic Buildings Panel – observed that these
are modest towers compared to those at Owen Street and in particular they raised concerns that raised concerns over the impact on the adjacent public realm and streets below and felt that the towers would create a canyon effect and make the streets
unpleasant.
The report to councillors concludes that:
“It is considered that the development would enhance the character and appearance
of Castlefield Conservation Area and would not have a significant detrimental impact
on the settings of nearby listed buildings. The development has sought to minimise
potential for overlooking and loss of sunlight and daylight. The proposal would
regenerate a site that currently has a negative impact on the area and would improve
the public realm and permeability within the area.”
