Luvvies and lawyers oppose Spinningfields tower

ALLIED London’s latest plans for Spinningfields are being opposed by barristers based nearby and the management of the neighbouring Manchester Opera House.

The Ambassador Theatre Group, which runs the Opera House, is worried the demolition of Quay House and its replacement with a 20-storey tower will interupt matinee performances and make it harder to load up props and other equipment.

Barristers based at the listed Cobden House on Quay Street argue that the new 340,000 sq ft block, known as No 1 Spinningfields, will block out light.

They criticise the Ian Simpson design and argue that the building will create a “physical and psychological barrier” along the route lawyers take between the courts on the other side of Spinningfields and the chambers around Byrom Street.

English Heritage also argues that the design will have a “harmful impact on the settings of several heritage assets, namely Cobden House, Sunlight House, Royal London House, the Opera House the listed terraces on St Johns Street, Deansgate/Peter Street Conservation Area, St Johns Street Conservation Area and Castlefield Conservation Area”.

But council officers are recommending the scheme is approved when it is considered by the planning committee on May 8. In a report prepared ahead of the meeting they write: “There are a number of tall buildings within the city centre and a tall building on this site would add and respond well to other tall buildings within the city. The development would improve the entry sequence into Manchester along Quay Street and would help to define a major entry point into the city centre.”

They add: “The assessment concludes that the impact of the proposal on the listed buildings would be minor adverse within short range
views. It acknowledges that there would be localised instances of harm to the settings of the Grade II* listed Cobden House and the group of Grade II listed buildings on St John Street. However, it is considered that, notwithstanding the desirability of preserving the setting of the listed buildings, this harm would be outweighed by the public benefits of the scheme.”

The council said Allied London was committed to employing “best practice construction management techniques” that would minimise disruption during demolition and construction.