262-home mixed-use redevelopment at Chorlton Square Shopping Centre, Manchester

What was proposed

The application proposed six buildings of four to ten storeys, providing up to 262 homes, commercial space, parking, access and landscaped public realm.

“Proposal Erection of 6 no. residential buildings of 10, 8, 6 and 4 storeys in height to provide up to 262 residential dwellings (Use Class C3) with ground floor commercial uses (Use Class E (a-e)); infrastructure works including electric substation and associated utilities works, basement and ground level car parking, service yard, vehicular and pedestrian accesses; together with public realm works and hard/soft landscaping following the demolition of the existing buildings…”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The site was a 1.27-hectare former shopping centre within Chorlton District Centre, beside roads, homes, a health centre, a school and a conservation area.

“The application site comprises a majority of the buildings, commercial units, and surface car parking associated with the Chorlton Precinct Shopping Centre an early 1970s commercial development. The site extends to 1.27 hectares in size and is comparatively flat although there is a gradual increase in ground levels from east to west.”

“The application site is located within the commercial area associated with Chorlton District Centre which extends east/west and north/south from the junction between Wilbraham Road and Barlow Moor Roads. The District Centre provides a distinct mix of independent shops, cafes, restaurants, drinking establishments and service uses.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers considered the redevelopment acceptable and recommended approval subject to a legal agreement covering biodiversity, affordable housing viability and the project architect.

“On balance, it is considered that the proposed development would make effective use of a sustainable previously developed site and represents an appropriate and satisfactory form of development that would make a meaningful contribution to the supply of residential dwellings in Chorlton.”

“Recommendation: Minded to Approve subject to the signing of a section 106 agreement relating to: the provision of a Habitat Maintenance and Management Plan of on-site biodiversity, including the landscaping strategy and associated monitoring fee; a reconciliation test for an affordable housing payment with a mechanism to re- test the viability; and retention of the project architect to deliver the scheme in the interest of ensuring the architectural integrity of the scheme.”

Officer report

Support and local groups

Supporters welcomed housing, regeneration, sustainable transport and new businesses, while civic, community and traders’ groups objected to scale, design, retail loss, parking and public access.

“- The proposals will revitalise the high street, provide much needed housing and is well placed for sustainable transport: high frequency bus route, bike lanes and Metrolink. - The visual impact will be minimal as there is currently a high-rise derelict office block there. - There should be more developments of this density and close to the great transport links that exist.”

“The CLIF discusses the extreme pressures on parking in Chorlton which began when the Precinct carpark operators started charging for parking, and aggressively prosecuting users. Before this the carpark was regularly full. The Traders Association suggests that the development should provide 100 public spaces, and 30 for adjacent businesses. This would significantly improve Chorlton’s parking issues, while the district works to transition to active travel.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector, the applicant’s agent, Councillor Kirwin-McGinley and Councillor Midgley addressed the Committee, including requests for a site visit.

The decision

The Committee deferred consideration so members could visit the site and assess the application’s context within the area and the current precinct.

“The Committee resolved to defer consideration of the application in order to conduct a site visit to assess the context of the application within the area and the current precinct.”

Minutes