High school! Go-ahead for primary between 52-storey skyscrapers
PLANS to build a pair of 52-storey skyscrapers and a long-awaited primary school in Manchester city centre have been approved.
The £294m development – dominated by the ‘Blade’ and ‘Cylinder’ towers – will support a ‘positive vision for growth’ in the Deansgate area, according to developer Renaker.
A total of 855 apartments would be provided near the Mancunian Way, a third of which will be onebedroom flats with the remainder being two-bedroom, three bedroom and duplex units.
Renaker has also agreed with
Manchester council to pay £1.75m to provide the primary school and nursery, with playing fields planned on the roof of the building.
The development will also have a £5m public park, open space bounded by almost 100 trees and a small play area between Silvercroft Street and the school.
“The landmark deal for the new primary school and nursery is the first example of delivering a new primary school in the city centre as part of a mixed use development,” papers read. “The applicant is therefore playing a prominent role in providing vital social infrastructure that will support the attraction and retention of families living in the city centre.”
At the base of both buildings will be a large podium which will include concierge space for both towers, a lounge, gym, sauna and shops.
Beneath that there will be a threelevel basement car park with 389 spaces, and a further 855 cycle storage spots. While none of the proposed flats will be offered as affordable housing, the wider benefits of the scheme were welcomed by the planning committee.
Coun Jill Lovecy stressed the importance of having ‘integrated provision’ encourage more families to view the city centre as a sustainable place to live.
“It’s very welcome for us to have an application before us which includes the park, the open space and especially the new school,” she said. “These are very tall buildings, and I think in the period we’re living through a lot of people have concerns about whether this model of living is really going to be viable in the future with people entirely dependent on lifts for access. Nevertheless this has got very strong features and I’m happy to support this.”
Coun Joan Davies, who represents the Deansgate ward, said local members had been pushing for a school for a ‘long, long time.’
Renaker has already built four towers in the nearby Deansgate Square development, while its latest proposal will also form part of the wider Great Jackson Street regeneration.