Cottages demolition rejected
Manchester’s planning committee has reaffirmed its decision to reject plans to demolish 250-year-old cottages to build new flats in the city’s northern Quarter.
the buildings at 42-50 thomas street were given heritage status after planning permission was granted to redevelop the site in what has been described as a ‘unique set of circumstances’.
real estate Investments Partnership had hoped to act on planning consent it received in 2017 to build a five-storey apartment building with retail space in place of the three former weavers’ cottages.
Objectors urged the council to save the buildings, and last month councillors met the call by turning the application down.
Despite recommending that the demolition should go ahead, council officers were asked to present suitable reasons for refusal to support the committee’s stance at a meeting on thursday.
It was suggested that the ‘irreversible harm’ caused by the proposals would fall short of planning policy that requires a ‘clear and convincing justification’ for the loss of the buildings.
But planning officer Dave roscoe stressed to the committee that he was unaware of a funding source that would come to the rescue of the buildings.
steve slater, chief executive of real estate, said alternative schemes had been found to be unviable.
he told the committee that there was already ‘significant local interest’ in the proposed apartments and retail units.
the majority of the committee - eight councillors - voted in favour of the original decision made on august 27, while one member voted against and two others abstained.