Green light to transform Kendals into office scheme, but student tower refused
Manchester City Council’s planning committee has approved two major schemes, but refused another, at today’s (June 3) committee meeting.
Investec Bank applied for the conversion, alteration and extension of the Grade II-listed Kendals Building on Deansgate, including a three-floor roof-top extension, and the erection of a 14-storey building following demolition of the Fraser Building and multi-storey car park to the rear.
Both buildings would have basement and ground floor commercial units and upper floor offices, plus roof terraces, 401 cycle parking spaces and roof top plant.
The proposals included plans for offices on floors one to nine, together with change of use of ground, lower ground and basement levels of the Kendal Milne building to flexible commercial spaces.
It is estimated that, when fully occupied the scheme could support almost 4,000 jobs and generate more than £300m for the local economy every year.
Affectionately known as ‘Kendals’ to Mancunians, the Kendal Milne building was purpose-built in 1939 as a department store.
Planning officers recommended approval for the scheme, which was passed by 12 votes with one abstention.
Mickey Nurtman, executive director of real estate for Investec, said: “We are pleased to see our plans for this important city centre site get the go ahead. A lot of hard work has been invested to get us to this point and we are confident the scheme will have a truly positive impact on Manchester city centre.
“I’d like to thank the local community, city centre businesses and Manchester City Council for their feedback, patience and support over the last six months.
“We are proud to be leading on a scheme that celebrates the Kendal Building and today’s news ensures that the development will be a focal point of Deansgate for many years to come.”
Ed Britton, assistant director at Deloitte, said: “Having stood at the centre of Deansgate for almost 100 years, the Kendal Milne building is an iconic part of Manchester city centre. It’s been a pleasure to have advised on the planning aspect for this project and we’re thrilled by today’s decision.
“The permission allows for a repurposing of space throughout, supporting employment growth and delivering a new development that will breathe vitality into this part of Deansgate and the nearby streets.
“The scheme will also deliver major improvements to the local public realm, creating a pedestrianised street contributing towards a more sustainable environment.”
With plans now approved, the project team is looking forward to the construction phase of the scheme and the process of appointing a construction contractor. The scheme could be completed by 2024.
Further along, at Deansgate South, proposals for a 28-storey purpose-built accommodation scheme providing 534 student bed spaces, was also heard, and refused.
The proposed scheme
Planning officers recommended refusal on the grounds that the scheme is not in close proximity to the university campuses or to a high frequency public transport route which passes the area. They also said the applicant, Fusion Manchester DevCo, has failed to demonstrate robustly that there is unmet need for the proposed student accommodation, that they have entered into an agreement with an education provider for the provision of student accommodation, or the proposal is deliverable.
Furthermore, they said the proposal does not demonstrate a positive regeneration impact in its own right and would be contrary to the Great Jackson Street Development Framework and the efforts made to create a high quality residential area.
Other factors were that the building would form an over-dominant feature and would fail to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of Castlefield Conservation Area.
Andrew Teage, of Cushman and Wakefield, argued on behalf of the applicant, that the site is within walking distance of universities and high frequency transport links, and that it would bring a long-standing brownfield site back into use. He also said it has the potential to become a “valuable landmark”.
However, the planning officers’ recommendation to refuse was backed by the commitee by 12 votes and one abstention.
Meanwhile, plans to create more than 1,000 new homes in the city on the site of a former gasworks were approved by the committee.
MCR Property Group wants to build nine structures, ranging from eight to 34 storeys to provide 1,202 residential apartments and ground floor commercial units, as part of a £220m scheme.
An image of the proposed nine buildings and public park
The proposed location is a brownfield site, used as a car park following the closure of the gasworks, close to NOMA and Manchester Victoria Train Station.
Planning officers said that the new households are predicted to spend £23.8m per year. On the assumption that 75% of this household spend is with Manchester, this is a direct benefit of £17.8m to the local economy.
Cllr Jill Lovecy raised the matter of providing sufficient services such as nurseries and GP practices considering the high levels of housing, but council planning officer Dave Roscoe reassured Cllr Lovecy that plans for the Victoria North area do include such services.
The planning committee approved the proposals by 11 votes in favour to one against and one abstention.
