Architect of Boris Johnson’s government’s controversial overhaul of the English planning system, Christopher Katkowski QC is representing Manchester City Council in a judicial review of the local authority’s future use of the former Central Retail Park in Ancoats.
Burnham urged to act against government’s proposed planning system changes
Open letter calls on Andy Burnham, and the leaders of the conurbation’s ten boroughs, to “intervene” in the government’s plans to change the UK planning system, which the campaigners call an “emergency for communities and local authorities across England.”
‘It’s like Grand Designs comes to Oldham’ — inside Oldham’s first community led housing project
Locked out of the housing market, locals in Saddleworth set up a not-for-profit company to build beautiful bespoke affordable homes. The project shows the huge potential of community led projects to build better homes and strengthen local communities.
Hulme tenants launch Crowdfunder for professional planning advice to oppose student flat development
Block the Block is a campaign started by residents of Hulme who are opposed to the building of high-rise student blocks, on a plot of land that has already had two similar proposals rejected by the council’s planning committee.
Their Crowdfunder aims to pay for a planning consultant to help prepare their case against this new proposal.
Furious residents condemn council decision to build over New Islington Green
Yesterday Manchester City Council’s planning committee approved a proposal to build five offices on New Islington Green in Ancoats, despite 94% of those responding to the consultation objecting to the plans and 5,000 signing a petition against development.
Campaigners fear for the fate of these popular poplar trees near Ryebank Fields
Campaigners can’t get a clear answer from Trafford Council and Manchester Metropolitan University about which side of the border these trees lie. They fear the trees could be felled to accommodate a controversial proposed development on Ryebank Fields. Andrea Sandor discovers the location of the boundary is indeed under discussion.
Manchester’s Planning Committee approves luxury hotel and defers controversial Deansgate office block
Manchester City Council’s Planning Committee agreed plans to build a £27m luxury hotel in Piccadilly, while also ruling on a site visit to a controversial proposed 17-storey Deansgate office block.
Protestors blast Manchester Metropolitan University for attempting to fence off Ryebank Fields
Manchester Metropolitan University workmen attempted to put up permanent fencing around Ryebank Fields yesterday morning allegedly because of the presence of “potentially hazardous material”. Protestors argue hazardous material is buried deep underground, and that MMU’s planned development and resulting disturbance of the land is the real cause for concern.
Can Greater Manchester’s planning committees keep up with the pace of advertisement technology?
Local councils are being overruled by central government on decisions regarding planning applications for LED billboards in public spaces. Check out the accepted and rejected digital billboards in your area on The Meteor’s interactive map.
Co-living: a new housing model in a broken system
After several months of rejection huge co-living developments are now coming to Manchester. Is it a new form of community living or another extractive product in the city’s ongoing property boom?
With strong links to the city’s financialised student housing sector, is this the type of housing we should be building during Covid-19 and the ongoing housing crisis?