More student flats, hotels and apartments as all ten planning applications approved by City Council

More student flats, hotels and apartments as all ten planning applications approved by City CouncilManchester City Council approved all ten developments up before yesterday’s planning and highways committee.Officers had recommended all of the proposals for approval prior to the meeting.The cost of a planning appeal process terrifies council officers and much of the scrutiny and tightening of applications takes place prior to the formal planning committee.The most significant commercial office development was Oval Property Group’s Albert Bridge House – the former HMRC office on Bridge Street – which will now be demolished to make way a 19-storey office block and two hexagonal residential towers of 34 and 45 storeys in height.The boom in residential development in the city centre shows no signs of slowing, both for student accommodation and upmarket apartments.Work will begin later this year on Axis Development’s Piccadilly Basin scheme for 261 apartments for rent in two buildings with private gardens and terraces and roof top amenities to be designed by Leach Rhodes Walker Architects it will create a new pedestrian route between the conservation areas of Ancoats and Stevenson Square.The scheme is a joint venture between Marco Living – whose businesses have operated in the Northern Quarter for over 50 years – and developer Axis Real Estate.Also approved were the £52m refurbishment of a former storage depot site at Ancoats Works which features canalside flats, town houses and a café bar.The Deansgate Locks Premier Inn in Medlock Street will be demolished to make way for a 38-storey skyscraper of student accommodation with 1,014 rooms as well as a 13-storey office building.Vita Group were given the green light to begin work on the group’s new Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) concept, House of Social, to First Street.Another block of student accommodation on Carmoor Road in Ardwick was significantly reduced by Tiger Developments on behalf of its sister company Host Student Housing so it reduced impact on the adjoining West Indian Community Centre.A Lidl supermarket and a new homeless shelter were also approved.