Transformational city centre scheme for 4,800 homes with seven towers gets approved

Councillors on Manchester City Council’s Planning and Highways Committee approved two of the largest residential planning applications ever submitted to the authority yesterday. 

Far East Consortium (FEC), the developer behind Manchester’s Victoria North joint venture partnership with Manchester City Council, had two planning applications approved to build over 4,800 homes on Red Bank close to Victoria station.

The plans look to transform over 30 acres of largely brownfield site into housing and commercial and social facilities.

Both planning submissions were centred on the “Wild Urbanism” concept, which prioritises green space, biodiversity, active travel and public realm as part of the city centre living experience, placing sustainable living at the forefront of the project.

The buildings within the masterplan will be delivered to a high sustainability standard which will include the installation of solar panels, heat pumps and green and brown roofs.

Planning officers had recommended to the committee that both applications be approved subject to conditions.

Red Bank is one of the first of seven neighbourhoods being regenerated as part of Victoria North, which will create 15,000 new homes over the next decade.

Planning advisors on the project are Avison Young. The proposals have been developed in partnership with Copenhagen-based public realm specialist, Schulze+Grassov, and masterplanner, Maccreanor Lavington. 

Up to 3,250 of the new homes and more than 160,000 sq ft of non-residential floor space will now be built including commercial uses, a health centre, primary school, residential amenities and community spaces. The outline proposals also include the creation of new public realm with extensive areas of landscaping, greenspace and wetlands; supporting a minimum 10% biodiversity net gain across the neighbourhood.

Also on the way will be seven large towers, as high as 34 storeys high on three plots on Dantzic Street, adjacent to FEC’s 634- home Victoria Riverside scheme, which will form the developer’s next phase of delivery.

The towers will include 1,550 homes varying in height between 6 and 34 storeys designed by Manchester-based architect, Hawkins\Brown, and Maccreanor Lavington’s Rotterdam studio. It will bring to market a mix of one, two and three-bed apartments and townhouses catering for a diverse mix of type and tenure of homes including build to rent (BTR), affordable and open market sale. The buildings have been designed with energy efficiency measures including low carbon and renewable technologies.

FEC wants support a new high street, including 20,000 sq ft of commercial and retail space earmarked for local independent businesses. The detailed proposals also feature high quality public realm, including extensive landscaping and significant improvements to the streetscape of Dantzic Street and Dalton Street with tree planting, resurfacing, widened footpaths and new cycle lanes.

Hilary Brett, project director at FEC, said: “Red Bank is one of the most under-used areas in Manchester, but its proximity to the city centre and the existing natural assets of the River Irk and St Catherine’s Wood make it the ideal location for a thriving new neighbourhood.

“We are delighted to have received approval and want to thank everyone who has been involved and supported the project to get us to this point. We’re excited to move forward with our next phases of delivery.”

Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and development, said: “It’s great to see the momentum continue for this part of the Victoria North programme. This area of the city centre has lain dormant for many years, and it should be cause for celebration that, through our partnership with FEC, we can ensure it meets its full potential.

“Red Bank will be a new and exciting neighbourhood for our ever-growing city, and we look forward to implementing the next steps in the long-term journey of delivering Victoria North.”

Other applications approved at yesterday’s short meeting included an expansion of capacity at Loreto College in Hulme, and approval for housing association Moss Care St Vincent’s plan to build 50 new homes at the site of the former Chorlton Leisure Centre.