Simpson Haugh gets green light for 51-storey Manchester towers

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But viability concerns see city鈥檚 20% affordable housing target ditched yet again

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Simpson Haugh has won planning permission for two 51-storey residential tower blocks in central Manchester, but the scheme has drawn criticism for failing to meet affordable housing targets.

It is the second time this year that proposals drawn up by the practice for developer Renaker have been consented without delivering on Manchester鈥檚 20% affordability target.

Last month, the practice鈥檚 1,950-home four-tower Trinity Islands scheme in Castlefield, which ranges in height from 39 to 60 storeys, was given the green light with just a 拢106,000 contribution towards off-site affordable housing.

Last week, members of Manchester city council鈥檚 planning and highways committee followed officers鈥� recommendations to approve the 988-home Great Jackson Street twin towers scheme with just a 拢90,000 contribution towards off-site affordable housing.

John Flanagan, a Labour member of the planning and highways committee, said the affordable housing contribution was 鈥渁n insult鈥�.

The latest towers are earmarked for plots to the south of Simpson Haugh鈥檚 Deansgate Square development for Renaker, with its 64-storey and 50-storey towers being the closest blocks.

A report to the meeting said the delivery of new homes was a priority for the city council and that the Simpson Haugh proposals would 鈥渄evelop a brownfield site that makes little contribution to the area and would create active street frontages鈥�.

Officers said the proposal was a 鈥渉igh quality scheme in terms of its appearance鈥� and would provide areas of high-quality public realm for occupiers of the development and the wider community.

They added: 鈥淎ll these matters have an impact on the scheme鈥檚 overall viability. The applicant has provided a viability appraisal, which has been made publicly available through the council鈥檚 public access system. This has been independently assessed on behalf of the council.鈥�

Officers said that as well as the 拢90,000 affordable housing contribution, Renaker was committed to making a contribution of 拢500,000 to a new school at Crown Street and would provide public realm improvements 鈥渁t a cost of 拢3.9m鈥�.