Planning round-up: Brazennose House; FC United; Bruntwood; Keepmoat; and more

FUND manager PRUPIM’s application to replace Manchester’s Brazennose House with 150,000 sq ft of new Grade ‘A’ office space is set to be heard by Manchester City Council’s planning committee today.

The mixed use scheme will also have 4,800 sq ft of restaurant space at ground floor level and a new public piazza would be built in front of St Mary’s Church.

The current Brazennose House building was built in 1964 but only 4% of its office space is currently occupied. PRUPIM is planning to demolish the existing building and erect a 12-storey office in its place.

At the time the application was submitted, William Rooke at PRUPIM said: “The influx of some 1,250 new employees in the redeveloped Brazennose House will have a hugely positive regenerative effect on this important commercial area; the area is now looking tired and has, to a certain extent, evolved predominantly into a through-route.”

Planning officers have recommended that the committee approves the application, which was submitted by Drivers Jonas Deloitte following consultation with local businesses and St. Mary’s Church by GL Hearn’s Strategic Communications team.  

If approval is granted, it is expected that demolition could begin in spring 2012 and be complete by around summer 2014.

::

FC United of Manchester’s application to build a new 5,000-seat stadium at Ronald Johnson Playing fields in Moston, north Manchester, is also set to be heard at the same meeting.

The not-for-profit football club has submitted a proposal to build a stadium, parking for 162 cars, floodlights and three other pitches, including a floodlit synthetic pitch. A function room and other on-site facilities will also be made available for community use.

Its proposal has seen 5,635 letter written in support of the stadium and some 2,226 objecting to it.

The council’s head of planning recommends that the committee should approve the application subject to certain conditions being attached, including community uses for the stadium as well as the production and regular monitoring of a travel plan for the site.

::

MANCHESTER-based property company Bruntwood has secured planning approval for the redevelopment of its flagship City House office building in Leeds city centre.
 
Bruntwood will convert the 120,000 sq ft City House into Grade A, BREEAM “Excellent” office space available from mid-2013. The 14-storey building, located directly above the city’s mainline train station, will provide office space to suit all business sizes from bespoke suites to flexible serviced offices.
 
Bruntwood director Craig Burrow said: “City House will benefit from meticulous design, precision craftsmanship and the highest quality materials to ensure it impresses on every level.”
 
City House was acquired by Bruntwood in July 2010.
 
::

SOCIAL housing specialist Keepmoat is planning to build 62 new affordable housing units on a on a 2.9 acre site in Birkenhead.

The company is planning to build the two- and three-bed family homes on the site of the former Cavendish Centre on Laird St. Around 30% of the homes being developed will be used by housing association Wirral Partnership Homes to provide affordable rental accommodation.

Planning officers are recommending that the scheme is approved.

::

DEVELOPER Arley Homes is proposing to build 21 new homes on land off Hastings Road in Nantwich.

The Warrington-based company is lookiing to build 11 detached houses, 4 semi-detached and two blocks of three properties. Eight of the properties would be five-bed homes, while six would be offered under affordable homes schemes.

Provision for off-street parking for two cars is also being made at each address, while new public open space and a new habitat for newts is also being proposed.

::

GREAT Places Housing is proposing to build 10 affordable properties on a site off Sandy Lane in Lymm, near Warrington.

The four-bed properties would all be offered on a shared-ownership basis, with buyers being offered the chance to take a stake of between 35%-75% in their properties and paying a subsidised rent on the remainder.