UK: A proposal for a 122-key aparthotel in Manchester’s Northern Quarter looks set to be rejected by Manchester City Council’s planning committee.
Developer Tibst, a joint venture between bookmaker Fred Done’s Salboy and Factory Estates, has submitted a full planning application to demolish existing buildings on land bounded by High Street, Back Turner Street, Shudehill and Soap Street to make way for a 13-storey aparthotel. The proposed new-build, designed by architects 5plus, was earmarked as Zoku’s first UK site.
The application was scheduled to be considered by councillors on 16 November 2017 but was deferred to enable a site visit to take place. The committee then resolved to defer a decision on 14 December to enable planning officers to discuss the possibility of reducing the height of the Shudehill component and allow further negotiations regarding the waste management strategy with the applicant. However, Tibst subsequently confirmed that it considered this to be an appropriate scheme for the site and requested that the committee determined the proposal as it stands. The scheme had again been recommended for approval by planning officers ahead of the meeting.
The planning committee has opted to defer the decision but declared itself “minded to refuse” the application, with the height of the proposed scheme singled out as the key concern for the committee. The application is now expected to return to the committee at its next meeting for a final decision.</p
