Whelan submits plans for King St apartments

DAVE Whelan has submitted plan for the redevelopment of a grade II-listed building in Manchester’s King Street.

The multi-millionaire chairman of Wigan Athletic and founder of JJB Sports is planning 21 apartments in the upper floors of the block on the corner of King Street and Deansgate, across the road from the Waterstones building.

The building, which is owned by a Jersey-based Whelan family trust called Huron Properties, is home to a number of retailers on the ground floor including Jaeger and L’Occitane.

Speaking to TheBusinessDesk about the scheme in April, Mr Whelan said: “All the ground floor is occupied by retailers. Manchester is a great city and there will be strong demand. It’s in a great position and it’s a magnificent building.”

Manchester-based HOW Planning is handling the planning process for Mr Whelan. Planner Chris Sinton said: “The upper floors of this building have been vacant since its previous occupants relocated and despite a major office refurbishment it has failed to attract new tenants.  

“It is in an ideal location for a new residential development and the proposed development will sympathetically restore a grade II-listed building back to beneficial use.”