Green light for Spinningfields tower and Airport City hotel

ALLIED London’s latest plan for Spinningfields – a 20-storey tower – has been approved by Manchester’s planning committee.

The Ian Simpson-designed block, known as No 1 Spinningfields, will offer 340,000 sq ft of grade A space on the site of Quay House in Quay Street.

The design has attracted criticism from 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 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 building will block out light.

English Heritage also argued 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”.

Allied London’s chief executive Michael Ingall said: “With No 1 Spinningfields we intend to create the most desirable office building in the UK, outside of London. Inspired by buildings from around the world, it will be a powerful statement for us and for Manchester.
 
“We have already had strong interest from several potential occupiers, demonstrating the strength of the Spinningfields offer and the confidence that businesses have in our ability to deliver the product they need.”

* The council’s planning department has also approved a 350-bed Hilton Garden Inn hotel at Airport City North.

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) wants to build the three to four star hotel on a surface car park known as plot 107 between the M56 spur and the bus apron.

Last year MAG agreed a joint venture with the Beijing Construction Engineering Group (BCEG) to deliver the £800m Airport City scheme.

It will consist of two sections – a world logistics hub to the south of the airport and a business district to the north that will have 1.2 million sq ft of offices, 530,000 sq ft of manufacturing space and 1,300 hotel beds on a 65-acre site. The 15-year project is expected to create 16,000 jobs.