Eight-storey plan for NQ
PLANS for an eight-storey apartment block on empty land behind the Northern Quarter’s Koffee Pot cafe will be considered by councillors tomorrow.
The cleared site on Spear Street - parallel to Oldham Street - would be turned into flats, replacing the former Crosby and Walker warehouse, which was demolished in 2009.
Nearby residents have complained about loss of light, some arguing that the move constitutes an ‘overdevelopment’ when nearby buildings stand no higher than seven storeys. Others say there should be a commercial unit to ‘animate’ the block at the ground floor.
Council officers say the move will add much-needed housing to the city centre, however, and are recommending it for approval.
The site fronts Spear Street just round the corner from Houldsworth Street, where several sites have been granted residential permissions in recent years.
According to the cover report, applicants M4nchester One bought the plot from Koffee Pot’s owners and now plan to build a mix of eight one-bed and three two-bed apartments.
While some objectors have suggested the council is supposed to limit the proportion of one-bed apartments within any scheme to a third, officers say the flats ‘would appeal to a wide range of people from families to couples and sharers.’
On loss of light, they admit the move would affect adjacent properties, but add: “It is inevitable that development on sites such as this would impact on the levels of amenity enjoyed by existing properties.
However, the building would reinstate the historic building line in accordance with good urban design principles.
The proposal is the latest of several to come forward for the backstreets and alleys around Houldsworth Street, including plans by Kempton Homes for apartments on the surface car park adjoining the site.