Mar 12, 2020

‘Giant monstrosity’ 18-storey tower blocks GONE in one fell swoop - but not without a fight The people of Hulme claimed they were being repeatedly ignored Share 16:08, 12 MAR 2020 (Image: DeTrafford) Plans to build an 18-storey tower block described as a ‘giant monstrosity’ in Hulme have been thrown out after a knife-edge vote by the city council. But the proposals for Ellesmere Street were thrown out following opposition from local councillors and a residents’ group who claimed their concerns had been ‘repeatedly ignored’. The developer was also criticised for not providing any affordable housing and instead offering £250k towards provision elsewhere in the city. Manchester council’s planning committee was split down the middle over the controversial plans, with six members in favour of granting permission and six against. But committee chair Coun Basil Curley cast the deciding vote to reject it, meaning DeTrafford must go back to the drawing board. The meeting on Thursday heard from the Britannia Basin Community Forum (BBCF), one of main objectors to DeTrafford’s development in the St George’s area of Hulme. (Image: DeTrafford) Louise Pullen, the group’s chair, said: “This developer has repeatedly ignored our concerns about thit scheme, they’ve not bothered to engage with us. “We feel they are designing gated communities, it doesn’t foster a strong community and the rapidly increasing population should be catered for. “We have also seen a rise in personal robberies and antisocial behaviour on Ellesmere Street.” Separate documents submitted by the BBCF said the two tower blocks, eight and 18 storeys in height, would change the character of the area. “Talbot Mill, Britannia Mills and Albert Mill, buildings with authenticity and interest, would be completely masked by a giant monstrosity,” they said. Tom Flanagan, director of planning consultants Paul Butler Associates and speaking on behalf of DeTrafford, said the scheme would bring ‘significant’ regeneration benefits to St George’s. He also told the committee that DeTrafford was committed to working closely with residents to ensure construction disruption would be kept to a minimum. (Image: DeTrafford) “The scheme has been sensitively designed, the heights [of the tower blocks] relate to existing buildings in the surroundings,” he said. “DeTrafford is committed to working closely with existing residents to ensure construction activity is managed effectively to minimise any impact.” Read More Related Articles Mr Flanagan also said the scheme would bring environmental benefits, including tree planting, and would raise an extra £600k in council tax each year for the council. But Coun Lee-Ann Igbon, one of two local ward members objecting to the scheme, raised concerns about Manchester city centre’s expansion into Hulme. (Image: DeTrafford) While not opposed to the redevelopment of the brownfield site, she said: “St George’s doesn’t belong to the city centre. It’s being gentrified. “It grates me that we’re listening to how much [the scheme] is going to support Hulme. This development will not house anyone who I deal with on a daily basis.” Read More Developers like DeTrafford can submit viability assessments with planning applications to show that the would not be able to build the scheme if affordable housing was included. They have agreed to pay £250k towards affordable housing elsewhere in the city, but Coun Igbon said ‘not a penny will go to Hulme’. Coun Annette Wright, who also represents Hulme, said the wider Manchester Gardens scheme was ‘nice enough’ but built in a way ‘that looks like a wall to keep people out’. She added: “It is too big, and social housing has just been dismissed. “We want genuine, stable and mixed communities but that’s not going to happen with this development.” ManchesterEveningNews