MMU’s Hulme campus set for approval

COUNCILLORS in Manchester are expected to give the green light to plans for a new Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) campus in Hulme tomorrow.

The £110m Birley Fields scheme includes a 250,000 sq ft five-storey academic building which will hold lecture theatres, study areas and sports and arts facilities.

The project also includes a multi-storey car park for 318 cars and an energy centre which will serve the site.

The university has also submitted outline plans for five blocks with bedrooms for 1,200 students and 46,000 sq ft of commercial, office and leisure space.

The development, which will serve 6,000 students, is part of an MMU plan to consolidate its operations on to two campuses, down from seven. It should be finished and occupied by 2014.

According to a report prepared ahead of the planning, leaflets were sent to 8,000 residents about the plans and 11,000 were consulted at 43 meetings. The council received around 50 letters with most of them objecting to the scheme.

Birley Fields was the site of 1960s flats which were cleared 15 years ago. Since then the land has been left and campaigners say it is now a valued green space. There are 192 trees and 78 will be chopped down to make way for the new buildings. MMU has pledged to plant 234 new trees.

In its report the council said: “The redevelopment of this site is a priority in terms of regeneration and meets a number of regional and local policies, as such the principle of redevelopment is not in question.

“However, given the fact that the site has remained vacant for a number of years a thorough analysis of the issues had to be undertaken and it is this analysis that has confirmed that the proposal brings with it environmental and regeneration benefits, both of which are to be welcomed.”