Controversial 55-storey student tower faces legal objection after overwhelming opposition
- City Council approves plans to build controversial £135m luxury student accommodation but faces legal objection
A 162-metre-high tower features 853 luxury student flats is set to become the third tallest tower in Manchester.
Situed behind Deansgate Square South Tower and Beetham Tower, it is due to be built on the corner of Great Marlborough Street and Hulme Street,
After councillors voted in favour of the plans, building of the tower can begin as soon as the conditions that are associated to the committee agreements are met.
The council received hundreds of objections against the plans with the strongest coming from residents of Macintosh Village< who are continuing their fight against the process.
Councillor William Jeavons said: “The residents from Macintosh Village are putting in a legal objection to the process.
“The main issue among the residents is that it’ll unbalance the community, into one that is further dominated by students.
“They have no issue with students, but for the community everything needs to be balanced and this’ll push it over the edge.
“The residents have a legal right to park their cars in the car park and in the long term, they will face no issues with carparking.
“However, when building begins there may be some short terms issues for residents not having a space for their car.”
The height of the tower has been another issue raised by objectors as it will affect the quality of life for residents by overshadowing residents’ windows, depriving many of their natural light they claim.
Objectors also pointed out the questionable demand for accommodation that is estimated to be around £375 per week, which more than twice the average weekly cost for accommodation in Manchester.
In June, the planning and highways committee were tied at a vote over making a decision on the plans for the project, with five members for and five against.
This led to the committee chair, Councillor Basil Curley, who tends to refrain from voting on applications, to have the final vote and decided in favour for the project.
He told the council: “For me it’s thinking about the total volume of investment and the jobs, and it is an extremely difficult situation to be in.
“I am struggling, but based on what I really believe in myself, and when I think about where those students going to go, I’m going to cast my vote in favour of the development.”