Planning update: Tranmere housing plans, Library Walk; new Manchester skyscraper, and more
WIRRAL councillors have approved controversial plans to build 90 houses on a playing field memorial to 88 men who lost their lives in the First World War.
Tranmere Rovers wants to build on Birkenhead Institute Playing Field in Ingleborough Road, Prenton.
The seven-acre playing field, which was sold by Wirral Borough Council to Tranmere in 1995, was opened in 1926 to commemorate 88 boys from Birkenhead Institute, among them the war poet Wilfred Owen.
Its status as a memorial triggered local opposition to Tranmere’s plans and among groups such as the War Memorials Trust, Birkenhead History Society and Birkenhead Old Boys.
But there was support too, from those who believe it will improve the area because the fields are currently closed to the public. There was also an eagerness to support Tranmere, described as “huge part” of the Wirral, in planning papers.
The club, owned by chairman of AIM-listed Park Group Peter Johnson, has promised to incorporate a new memorial to the war dead in the development.
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COUNCILLORS in Manchester approved the construction of a glass link between the Central Library and the Town Hall Extension, despite widespread opposition.
The work means blocking the curved Library Walk which runs from Mount Street to St Peter’s Square. Gates will also be put up at the Mount Street end which will close after 10pm.
The city council says the link, estimated to cost £3.5m, will provide a joint entrance to both the Town Hall building and the library, and make it easier for people to move between the two buildings which will offer shared services as part of a multi-million pound refurbishment. However, there will also an underground link.
But 127 letters of objection were sent to the council, including representations from the Manchester Women’s Design Group, The Manchester Modernist Society and Modernist Magazine and The Friends of Library Walk.
A Friends of Library Walk Facebook page garnered more than 1,000 members and an e-petition attracted 1,309 signatures. Several councillors and Gorton MP Sir Gerald Kaufman also objected.
They say the designs compromise the integrity of the two Grade II-listed buildings and affect the character of Library Walk.
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MANCHESTER City Council has approved Chelmer Developments’ plans for a 42-storey tower at River Street in the city centre.
The tower, which has been designed by Ian Simpson architects, is set to be built on a site bordering the Mancunian Way that currently contains a part-built concrete frame.
London-based Chelmer plans to build 600 serviced apartments, meeting rooms, a restaurant, bar and shop in the building.
In their guidance to councillors, planning officers said: “It is considered that a mixed use development incorporating a tall building and the proposed level of serviced apartments and commercial units would be an appropriate response to national and local planning policy, that would promote a quality neighbourhood, economic development and sustainable travel patterns.”
The Manchester office of GVA is supporting Chelmer with the planning process.
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PLANS to demolish a Croda chemicals factory on the Wirral and replace it with a £35m mixed-use scheme have been approved by Wirral Council.
The former fatty acid plant at Bromborough closed in December 2009 with the loss of 115 jobs and was later bought by the US group, International Process Plants and Equipment (IPP) through a special purpose vehicle, Dibbin Estates and Equipment.
It plans to use the 35-acre site for 162 new homes and 180,000 sq ft of commercial space which it says will create 400 jobs.
