Castlefield ‘creator’ company to protest over tower block

THE company which developed the landmark properties in Manchester’s popular Castlefield is “vehemently opposing” plans for a residential scheme it says will drawf the historic canal basin.

Managing director of Castlefield Estates Sarah believes the height and design of the apartment development breaches the basin’s conservation area and urban heritage park status and has employed independent planning consultants and heritage experts to fight the application.

The plans, designed by OMI Architects for Ancoats based Renaker Build show a 21-storey tower next to the distinctive Grade II-listed Congregation Chapel (Artingstalls Auctioneers) building and Grade II-listed viaduct with a separate nine to12-storey block filling the rest of the site.

Ramsbottom, the daughter-in-law of company founder Jim Ramsbottom, said: “On the one hand the (Manchester) City Council is lauding Castlefield as the true historic neighbourhood and tourism treasure it is and the next it allows second-rate development plans like this to even be considered. I am appalled that it has reached this stage.

“Castlefield is a rare treasure, unique to the city and special enough to be classified a conservation area by the city and proposed as a World Heritage Site.”

“We are not opposed to the development of Castlefield, but this scheme is over development and turns its back on the basin.

“Because of the different height levels visitors to the basin would be faced with an impenetrable 5m high wall, punctured only by vents because it hides a car park.

“This scheme has no care or consideration for Castlefield and while we are happy to lead the fight I would urge everyone who cares about Manchester and its historic origins and treasures to voice their opposition.

“Any development here has to protect and enhance the conservation area and this singularly fails in this aim. The bulk and scale of these buildings will dominate the Castlefield Basin and also the Grade II listed Congregational Chapel.  

“The proposed development will adversely alter the very special character of Castlefield, not just for those who live and work here but for the City as a whole.”

An independent heritage assessment is being commissioned by Castlefield Estates.

A Historic England report points out that “account should be given to the desirability of sustaining and enhancing the significance of heritage asses and for a new development to enhance or better reveal the setting of heritage assets.”

In his report inspector David James says: “While we have no objection to the re-development of the site in principle, there is a need the proposals are responsive in character and appearance of the conservation area, given the great significance of the Castlefield canal basin context.”

Sarah’s husband James Ramsbottom of Elle R Leisure, which owns Dukes 92 and Alberts Shed, and whose father Jim first had the vision to preserve the area, says that both Dukes and Alberts Shed would also be objecting, despite potential benefit from around 600 new residents.

Ian Christie from the Castlefield Forum who unanimously voted at their October meeting to oppose the development said: “We consider the sheer scale of the proposed buildings makes them overly dominant and intrusive in a highly sensitive and distinctive part of the canal basin.

“They seem to have been designed with far more regard to Chester Road and the adjacent Town House and Owen Street developments than to the canal basin in which they stand.

“The boundary of the Conservation Area is not the canal towpath to the west of the site as the developers might prefer, but on Chester Road to the east of the site so as to deliberately include all sites surrounding the basin.

“We are writing to all Forum members to share our views but would welcome the opportunity to work with, not against, developers.”