Developer to return to collapsed firm’s plans after rejection of 5Plus scheme

The developer behind a housing development close to Old Trafford football stadium has said it will return to six-year-old plans by the now-dissolved Blok Architecture after more recent proposals by 5Plus were rejected on appealJacob Jumani, chief executive at project client Jumani Holdings, told the AJ he had been left with ‘no choice’ other than to build out the 2016 scheme on the Manchester plot after an inspector threw out an application from 2020 for a proposal designed by 5Plus.Planning inspector G Rollings ruled that the 5Plus plans would ‘harm the character and appearance of the area’ and be harmful to highway safety. Insufficient outdoor space meant the development would ‘not provide acceptable living conditions for future occupiers’, according to the inspector.Jumani told the AJ he would not try again with the rejected proposals.‘We have spent three years to get to this stage and I don’t see any point in spending more time with planning,’ he said. ‘It is a waste of time, as the system is not pragmatic nor practical.’Councillors granted conditional approval six years ago for plans by Liverpool practice Blok Architecture to build 89 apartments over 12 floors, including a 30-space basement car park and further parking facilities at ground level on the site of the former MKM House on Warwick Road in the Stretford district.Although Blok appointed a liquidator in 2017, and was formally dissolved in 2021, its scheme has been implemented in planning terms, as groundworks took place within three years of the planning approval date and other conditions have been met.In the meantime, however, Jumani appointed 5Plus to draw up a 13-storey, 88-flat alternative vision for the plot, including just six car parking spaces, now located outside the building, along with 100 cycle parking spots at ground-floor level.These proposals were recommended for approval by Trafford Council planning officers but rejected by councillors in May 2021 before Rollings dismissed an appeal against that decision last month.Jumani said: ‘Build costs are increasing with inflation and basement cost is significant these days. But we have no choice but to do the existing scheme; it makes no sense to waste more time or money on planning.’He added: ‘The 5Plus scheme was lovely – co-working lounge, gym, landscaping, amenities on the rooftop, even a cycling workshop.’5Plus declined to comment.