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The last meeting of @ManCityCouncil's planning committee is about to start, so I'll be keeping all the major talking points in this thread.
Just in case you missed my earlier tweet, here is a roundup of everything that will be considered today https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/campus-plans-much-loved-new-19433163?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar
Just in case you missed my earlier tweet, here is a roundup of everything that will be considered today https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/campus-plans-much-loved-new-19433163?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar
https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/campus-plans-much-loved-new-19433163?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar
Still waiting for the stream to go live on Youtube. Here's the link if you wanted to watch alongside my premier live-tweeting coverage...
We're away, with the first application involving an extension to a property in Ardern Road, Crumpsall. Nine objections have been received from residents and a planning consultant in relation to the potential impact on the Crumpsall Lane conservation area.
That application is approved. Next up is the big one, that being the plan to build offices on 'New Islington Green', as pictured by @pixel8foto here.
Planning officer Dave Roscoe says further letters of support and objection have been received since the meeting agenda was published last week. More than 540 official objections were submitted on top of over 5,000 signatories of a petition calling for the green to be saved.
. @AlanGoodLD is speaking against the plan. Asks why the council sold the land at a 'cut price' during a climate crisis, and why it is entertaining offices being built on a green during the middle of a pandemic when people are working fron home.
Says over 700 residents have contacted him over the issue, including leaseholders stuck in dangerous flats with unsafe cladding. "We are told that the council cares but time after time, [residents] are ignored."
A survey of 700 people carried out by @AlanGoodLD found that 92% wanted to keep the green. He asks the committee to reject the plans. "Show people that consultation works and give people faith in the planning process."
Up next is Jacob Loftus, founder of General Projects, the London-based developer behind the plans. "The importance of providing best in class community focused public green space is the vital component of this project and why it sits at heart of proposals."
Says £5m will be spent on new green space with a canalside park, green walkways and new public town square. Stresses that this the kind of environment people will want to work in, with 3,500 jobs expected to be created by small and medium sized enterprises.
Ancoats and Beswick councillor @CllrETaylor is also speaking against the plans. "It is my duty as a local representative to voice concerns of my residents." Says the green is hugely valued by the surrounding community at a time when it is seen as a lifeline during the pandemic.
Says the two acres of improved green space is too small for the local community, with the majority of the green taken up by the five office buildings.
Dave Roscoe says the green has never had green space status and has been earmarked for development for several years. Says the vision is in line with wider plans to regenerate Ancoats, New Islington and east Manchester.
"In terms of the need for office space, the council has established economic recovery plan and the delivery of new infrastructure, investment and workplaces is an absolutely essential ingredient of that." Says there is a shortage of good quality office space in Manchester.
"RE post-pandemic, Manchester will need jobs more than it needs anything else if you read the quite frightening unemployment figures. The proposal provides 1,200 jobs during construction jobs and many thousands once in operation."
The committee now gets their say. @gavinwhite76 has concerns about the spacing between the office buildings and the green space, says balance is in favour of giving the buildings more space.
An aside, but I've just seen that more than 100 people are watching the live stream on Youtube. That shows the strength of feeling in the community towards these plans.
In response to Cllr White, Dave Roscoe says over a third of the site will be given to green and open space. "There's not too many developments in similar locations that have such an extensive provision."
Up next is @JLovecy who says that the fact that the green falls on brownfield land makes it a difficult situation. "As someone that objects to so many sites because of lack of public space, this is an unusual development as it incorporates a significant amount of public space."
Cllr Lovecy says she will vote in favour of the application though she recognises how residents have become used to the green during the pandemic.
Flags concerns raised by neighbouring Ancoats/New Islington developments Milliners Wharf and Hat Box about the access road Munday Street being congested by those using the campus/park. Mr Roscoe says the development is car-free so the road shouldn't be affected.
. @JuneCllr raises concerns about the size of the porposed buildings - three of them would be eight storeys high - and that could take away daylight for some residents of neighbouring buildings. Mr Roscoe accepts that some residents will be affected.
. @Yasmine_Dar welcomes all types of investment and creation of jobs in the area. "But on this occasion I recognise local cllrs and residents have raised concerns in regards to overdevelopment and reduction of green space." Says she will not be supporting the application.
Mr Roscoe again says that there will be noticeable changes to views/sunlight for residents like all city centre developments. But said that the changes won't be significant enough for a refusal of the application to stand up against an appeal by the developer.
Looks like we're close to the vote, but @joand7 speaks first. "This debate around jobs and green space is one we've had before and we are going to have again." Says jobs are vital, as are green spaces on former industrial land that have been adopted by residents - like the green.
Says she lives near Castlefield tram stop and that there is no substitute for green space, as the New Islington tram stop currently has with the green.
Mr Roscoe says if the council had left the green as a 'bomb site' for 20 years they would have been criticised. Instead they carried out landscaping to preserve it as the green it is today.
. @cllr_p moves approval for the application, which is seconded. Here comes the roll call...
BREAKING: Plans for the workspace campus on what is locally known on New Islington Green has been approved by the @ManCityCouncil planning committee.
Next up is plans to build two apartment buildings (to the left of the picture) on Mirabel Street near the @AOArena. The proposals include 129 flats - none of which will be affordable.
Objector Rebecca Fairclough says the two grey buildings would stick out a like sore thumb on a street dominated by red-brick buildings.
Concerns have also been raised about developer Maryland Securities 'misleading' responses to issues flagged during the public consultation.
John Cooper, the agent acting on behalf of the applicant, says the low-grade existing car park currently occupying the site detracts from this part of the city centre. "The site is is urgent need of regenerating."
Adds that the committee has already given planning permission for a taller building to be built on the same site.
Mr Cooper says the scheme could play a big role in the economic recovery of Manchester.
. @joand7, speaking as a Deansgate councillor, says there will be considerable overlooking and loss of privacy for people living in neighbouring buildings.
. @johnleechmcr picks up on the lack of affordable housing in the development, says there's no justification for approving an application of this scale without some affordable housing. Moves for refusal.
That development is approved. Next up is the returning 17-storey office building proposed to take the place of Speakers House on Deansgate. Overlooking oncerns have been raised by No 1 Deansgate residents, as well as the tower's impact on nearby heritage buildings.
But before that councillors have been given a comfort break, and I've been given time to frantically transcribe my notes for the write-up on New Islington Green. That should be with you soon!
And we're back with the Speakers House development. Roisin Lacey is speaking on behalf of a fellow residents of the neighbouring No 1 Deansgate apartment building who fear the new office block will block out sunlight.
Chris Sinton says that site owners and developers Kames Property Income Fund are dedicated to regenerating the site and contributing to the city centre economy, asks the committee to approve.
. @CllrMarcus says he is opposed to a develooment that he feels will have a "permanent and negative impact" on neighbourhoods, residents' quality of life and the city's heritage. The impact on the neighbouring Grade II listed Barton Arcade has been a central theme in objections.
. @gavinwhite76 agrees with @CllrMarcus, says the building's height is not suitable as it would impact on Barton Arcade as well as the St Ann's conservation area.
. @johnleechmcr believes the design of the building is 'not high quality', says it would be "more appropriate in 1970s Easter Berlin than in 2020 Manchester". Says it "looks terrible" from a distance.
Dave Roscoe says he's been to what used to be Berlin and can't recall seeing any buildings with 'such sophistication' as what is being proposed by Kames. "This is a very high quality scheme," he adds.
*what used to be East Berlin, that should say
I've missed a few minutes but @gavinwhite76 has moved a recommendation to refuse the application because of the impact on residential amenity and heritage buildings. That's seconded, now through to the vote.
Barring a few technical hitches with members voting I think that's been unanimously refused.
Onto the next application, which is the proposed Travelodge hotel on Whitworth Street West in Deansgate. A decision was deferred last time after concerns were raised about its design.
Onto the next application, which is the proposed Travelodge hotel on Whitworth Street West in Deansgate. A decision was deferred last time after concerns were raised about its design.
Glenn Howells, speaking on behalf of the application, says the ambition is to deliver an "exceptional building" that respects and enhances the historical character of the area.
Objectors previously described the proposals as "plain", "boring" and a "characterless box".
Objectors previously described the proposals as "plain", "boring" and a "characterless box".
Deansgate councillor @WilliamJeavons welcomes the high quality images but said concerns around the loss of two Victorian warehouses - which would be demolished to make way the hotel - remain. With bars opposite, he says it will encourage 24-hour activity and antisocial behaviour
Says the applicant has failed to show ambition by knocking the warehouses down, instead of trying to renovate them. Adds that they still have a part to play in the future of Manchester.
Dave Roscoe says neither warehouse has protected status and could be demolished tomorrow if permitted. Suggests that they are not worth saving having been vacant for some time.
. @johnleechmcr suggests that the council should review vacant city centre buildings that could potentially be repurposed. He's worried about the demolition of the warehouses, but will abstain as there are "no planning grounds for the hotel not to go ahead".
Another aside - Bbig respect to the 50+ people who are still sticking with the planning commtitee stream three and a half hours in. 
After this one there's still two applications to go, so not over just yet.
After this one there's still two applications to go, so not over just yet.
Next up is the application for One City Road office development, which includes two office blocks - 11 storeys and 14 storeys high - with 370,000 sq ft of Grade A office space. @joand7 has asked for a site visit but we have to hear from officers, objectors and the applicant first
Niall Alcock, speaking on behalf of the applicant Marshall CDP, said the proposals meet the council's wider aspirations to regenerate the area in and around First Street.
Says it will be critical to Manchester's recovery from the Covid crisis, asks the committee to approve the application.
. @WilliamJeavons, speaking on behalf of a resident who has had to leave the virtual meeting as the meeting has run on. In total 48 objections have been made against the development.
The resident raises concerns about that the building's 'detrimental' impact on nearby residents - concerns around sunlight, daylight and overlooking - were ignored. Dave Roscoe disputes this, those impacts have been properly considered in context of the site.
. @joand7's request for a site visit to gain a better insight into the concerns raised by residents is now heard. This is backed by most councillors. The final planning application that will be heard by the committee this year is upon us!
This concerns plans to demolish a detached house in West Didsbury and build a 34-flat retirement complex in its place. 116 people - including @JeffSmithetc - have objected to the proposals.
I've just realised that I didn't tweet the outcome RE the Travelodge in Deansgate - planning permission for the hotel was granted. Apologies.
Anyway back to West Didsbury. Chris Butt, speaking on behalf of McCarthy & Stone, "respectifully suggests" that concerns around the building's design and impact on neighbouring residents are "overstated".
. @RKilpatrickMCR, speaking against the application, said there has been several attempts to redevelop parts of Spath Road/Lancester Road. Says the amount of parking - 26 spaces - is insufficient
Says the development clearly represents overdevelopment and that it would not be in keeping with the character of the area. Also raises concerns about highways safety as the proposed access is on a dimly lit bend.
Says this part of West Didsbury, where the average house price is £500k+, is in desperate need of affordable homes, something which isn't proposed as part of the scheme.
. @johnleechmcr, stepping into his ward councillor shoes instead of a member of the planning committee, endorses his Lib Dem colleague's points. Says biggest concerns of residents is impact on the existing Jessifield house - built in 1937 - and neighbouring properties.
But he says parking is the main issue, says potential residents of the development are far more likely to have a car than in other retirement accommodation. Urges the committee to refuse the application.
. @GregStantonMCR says Didsbury is not an area where residents object for the sake of it. "However there are good and bad developments, and good and bad uses of land." Says the size of the complex is 'staggering' for the site.
The meeting hears that parking would not be a valid reason for refusal, but @gavinwhite76 says it should be refused on overdevelopment grounds.
That application has been refused.
And that marks the end of my live tweeting. Thanks for following along. Time for a beer I think!
And that marks the end of my live tweeting. Thanks for following along. Time for a beer I think!
