Controversial student housing rejected for FOURTH time in 18 months

Controversial plans for student housing in Hulme have been rejected for a fourth time in 18 months. Manchester council's planning committee has knocked back the development at the former Gamecock pub in Boundary Lane.

It comes after developer Curlew removed a further two storeys from the design, making it 30 pc smaller than the 13-storey block that was first proposed in May 2021. The building proposed now is for 146 students rather than 197.

Last year, the developer reduced the height of the block to 11 storeys after residents raised concerns about the height. But the development was rejected twice more, most recently in July after changes were made to parking.

READ MORE: 'We've lost everything. We have nothing in this area'

READ MORE: Today's top Manchester Evening News stories

Speaking at the planning committee meeting on Thursday (November 16), local resident Sally Casey said: "I'm confused as to why we're here for the fourth time in 18 months to object to this latest proposal by Curlew.

"They're back again and they believe that by removing two more storeys, it will make a blind bit of difference."

Members of the local community have proposed an alternative plan for the site of the pub which closed around 20 years ago. They want to see age-friendly social housing built on the land with a social space for the community.

The developer has offered some community space within the student accommodation scheme. However, watching the meeting from the public gallery, objectors laughed when the dimensions of the 85 sqm room were read out.

Speaking on behalf of the developer, Andrew Bickerdike said that 'fundamental' changes have been made to the design in response to feedback from the local community and the planning