Two big student schemes backed by officers at next planning meeting

Two big student schemes backed by officers at next planning meetingTwo large purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) towers have been recommended for approval by planning officers ahead of next week’s planning and highways committee meeting of Manchester City Councillors.The partial demolition of the dilapidated but iconic Hotspur Press will make way for a 37 storey PBSA building with a ground floor commercial unit.Developer Manner said the scheme close to Oxford Road train station would be managed by Fresh, a student sector specialist Fresh, and will include a square opening out onto First Street.However, Manchester Metropolitan University is refusing to support the scheme due to less than 20% of units being made available at a discounted rent and have raised concerns about the predominance of studio units which are less affordable than cluster units.The University expect there to be a reasonable proportion of affordable rooms in the scheme (at least 20% at rents no more than 80% of the maximum student maintenance grant. They would not support planning permission being granted without this minimum level of affordable rooms.They are concerned that with only 44% of the beds being clusters, that this scheme will deliver a product which are not affordable.Also up for discussion is a proposal to provide accommodation for 19 single homeless men in Collyhurst, submitted by Caritas, Diocese of Salford.The Homeless Directorate support the proposal, but local Councillors Grimshaw and Hitchen are suggesting a site visit.