Eight townhouses at Commercial Street, Manchester

What was proposed

The application proposed eight five-storey, three-bedroom townhouses with private roof terraces and garages.

“The proposal is for 8no. five-storey townhouses.”

“Planning permission is sought for the construction of eight, 5 storey townhouses. Each would have three bedrooms, a private roof terrace and a garage.”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The 450-square-metre site was a temporary car park near Commercial Street, Constance Street and Little Peter Street.

“The site is 450 sqm and used as car park. It is at the junction of Commercial Street and Constance Street and surrounded by a low-level timber fence. The site slopes from Constance Street to Commercial Street. It is not in a conservation area.”

“Nearby listed buildings include the Grade II Listed Deansgate Station and Grade II Listed floodgate and boundary stone on the River Medlock. There are non- designated heritage assets on Constance Street, Commercial Street and Little Peter Street that are red brick with stone features and are former warehouse/industrial buildings. Historically the site was developed in the mid 1820’s and three properties existed on site are likely to have been warehouses.”

Officer report

Earlier planning history

Earlier permissions included seven townhouses in 2021 and a five-storey building for nine apartments in 2026.

“128433/FO/2020 - Seven townhouses on land bounded by Commercial Street, Constance Street and Little Peter Street. Approved March 2021.”

“143678/FO/2025 - Erection of five-storey building on land at the Constance Street and Little Peter Street for 9 apartments, with cycle parking, refuse storage and plant in the basement. Approved February 2026.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Environmental Health, highways, ecology, flood risk, archaeology and other consultees supported conditions covering construction, drainage, biodiversity, security and contamination.

“Environmental Health advise that conditions relating to plant and equipment, construction management, acoustic insulation, refuse storage and disposal, air quality and a verification report to validate that contaminated land works comply with the remediation proposals received are required.”

“Flood Risk Management advise a condition to require a drainage maintenance and management plan.”

Officer report

Objections and comments

Objectors raised concerns about daylight, sunlight, openness, enclosure, heritage, servicing, waste collection, pavement obstruction and cumulative development.

“- This proposal, and other nearby schemes, would significantly reduce daylight, sunlight, and openness, and introduce waste management and servicing issues. It could harm residential amenity. - Two developments are proposed at the same time increasing the issues. - Constance Street is less than six metres wide. Even moderate increases in building height or bulk have a disproportionate impact on light levels, particularly for lower-level dwellings.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An agent for the applicant spoke about the brownfield redevelopment, design, transport, jobs, biodiversity and flood risk; no objector attended.

What members discussed

Members discussed adding swift bricks and ensuring bins would not encroach onto nearby pavements.

“The Committee raised the following issues; the inclusion of swift bricks to complement the bat and bird boxes and confirmation that bins would not encroach onto nearby pavements.”

“The Planning Officer stated that swift bricks could be added as a condition and that refuse conditions met all required regulations, adding that the Environmental Health department were satisfied with the application.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee approved the application subject to the report’s conditions and an additional condition requiring swift bricks.

“Councillor Kilpatrick moved the Officer’s recommendation with the additional condition of the inclusion of swift bricks into the scheme.”

“The Committee resolved to move the recommendation of Approve for the application subject to conditions within the report and the additional condition for the inclusion of swift bricks.”

Minutes