The massive Manchester developments knocked back by the planning committee

Manchester's planning committee voted against two major developments in and around the city centre at a major town hall meeting on Tuesday (May 31). Plans for a 34-storey tower between the Northern Quarter and Ancoats were knocked back alongside a bid to build a 261-bed student complex in Hulme.

Decisions over a 15-storey tower in Store Street and a listed office rebuild in Fountain Street were also deferred so that councillors could visit these sites. All of these applications will come back to the planning committee at another meeting allowing for officers to prepare another report to address concerns.

Campaigners from Block the Block filled the council chamber to show their opposition to the student accommodation at the former Gamecock pub site. However, they left the meeting unsure whether to celebrate the outcome.

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Director of planning Julie Roscoe explained that, in effect, the applications which councillors voted against have been deferred until the next meeting. She said: "I just want to avoid any confusion because the application will need to come back.

"It's not actually been refused at this meeting. We will be required to bring it back and comment on the concerns raised.

"It will turn up on another agenda and I don't want anybody to be confused by that."

Councillors questioned claims made by developer Curlew that more student accommodation was needed in the area which is located near the universities. It followed speeches made on behalf of Aquarius Estate residents and by local councillors who raised concerns about the 13-storey tower blocking sunlight.

They also argued that the building itself would be 'bland' and