Didsbury homes and NQ hotel tipped for consent 

Manchester City Council looks likely to approve Southway Housing Group’s plans for 76 affordable properties off The Boulevard and Jadebricks’ proposals for a 117-bedroom hotel on Oldham Street. 

Didsbury Point

The development would be 100% affordable. Credit: via UK Networks

Developer: Southway Housing  

Architect: Buttress Architects 

Planner: Euan Kellie Property Solutions 

Application number: 135235/FO/2022

Southway Housing Trust submitted proposals to Manchester City Council for 76 homes off Princess Road in Didsbury in October. 

All of the homes within the development would be available on affordable tenures: 30 for affordable rent and 46 for shared ownership.  

The brownfield site is one of the remaining development plots within Didsbury Point, which has come forward over several years as part of the redevelopment of the former Withington Hospital, which closed in 2002.  

Designed by Buttress Architects, Southway’s scheme features a six- to eight-storey apartment block with a medical centre on the ground floor. 

The project team also includes Civic Engineers, Clancy, GIA and Plincke. 

A report to the council’s planning committee states that 182 letters of objection were received in relation to the scheme, while Lib Dem councillor John Leach has also voiced his concerns, claiming the scheme amounts to “overdevelopment”. 

However, Manchester City Council has recommended the project for approval when its planning committee meets on 19 January, stating that the scheme “accords with all national and local planning policies and guidance”. 

Larard’s Still 

SimpsonHaugh designed the project. Credit: via Turley

Developer: Jadebircks  

Architect: Simpson Haugh 

Planner: Turley 

Application number: 134953/FO/2022

Located between Oldham Street and Spear Street in Manchester, plans for the 117-bedroom Larard’s Still feature the retention and conversion of several existing buildings.  

Jadebricks, which is headed up by former Edwards & Co partner Mike Bathurst, acquired the site in 2020 and plans to retain and re-use 68 Oldham Street, while also keeping the façade of 70 Oldham Street.  

The main element of the scheme will see the creation of a new-build 10-storey block, while the warehouse at 61-65 Spear Street would be converted and extended upwards by three storeys.  

Cycas Hospitality has signed up to manage the aparthotel under Accor’s Adagio brand.  

As well as the hotel rooms, the scheme would also feature a guest lounge, gym and laundry facilities, and two independent commercial units on the ground floor.  

Manchester City Council’s planning officers said that the scheme would “contribute positively to the city’s hotel supply, improve legibility and wayfinding along a key pedestrian linkage within the Northern Quarter, and reactivate a site that has been vacant for some time.”