New 13 storey university library building on Manchester planning agenda

Manchester City Council’s planning and highways committee will be running the rule over six schemes submitted for approval at next Thursday (15 February 2024) spanning student accommodation, a new university library building, residential units and a homeless shelter.Officers said they are minded to approve Manchester Metropolitan University’s plans for a new library at All Saints on Oxford Road. The planning application was put together by consultants at Deloitte.The iconic design by architects HawkinsBrown and Schmidt Hammer Lassen will create a new gateway to the University but also “digitally enabled teaching and research facilities” with flexible break-out spaces.It will be the home to the Manchester Poetry Library, the North West’s first public poetry library and house a new gallery and event spaces designed for both public and University use.In recent years the University has completed the Institute of Sport on Oxford Road, the School of Digital Arts, the Arts and Humanities Building on the south side of All Saints Square, while work is currently underway on a new Science Building and the pedestrianisation of All Saints.If the planning application is approved, work will start in summer 2024 with full completion by 2028.However, a 112 home housing development in the Burnage ward represented by council leader Cllr Bev Craig has been recommended by refusal by officers who said Triple Jersey’s plans for the demolition of the B&M Home Store off Kingsway in Burnage lacked affordable homes. Local councillors also objected to its density and the site access. Planning officers also noted the loss of “important trees” and the scheme’s layout and appearance.Churchill Retirement Living’s proposed scheme for a 37 flat development has also been recommended for refusal by planning officers as it was deemed excessive in size.The remaining schemes recommended for approval are: a proposal from WUKPG for a 263-studio Purpose Built Student Accommodation project off Plymouth Grove, and close to the expanding mixed use scheme in Ardwick; a homeless shelter in Wythenshawe and One Manchester’s scheme for 109 affordable homes in Newton Heath.