Dozens of objections have been received over plans for the Charles Street car park site
Thousands of student homes are to be built in Manchester with new towers expected to be approved by councils this week amid objections from residents.
One new plan is to build three blocks of eight, ten and 38 storeys planned to replace the Charles Street multi-storey car park in central Manchester, bringing 1,041 student bedrooms to the city.
The site has been earmarked for development to be ‘accessible’ with access to trains, trams and buses.
But a total of 88 objections have been raised about the plans, calling the number of student bedrooms proposed as ‘completely absurd’ and saying that the security of the car park could lead to ‘more congested car parking spaces in the suburbs around the city center which are full of cars, making the streets very dangerous for children.
Green Party Councilor Ross Stevens also objected, calling for the plan to be looked at in more detail.
A separate planning application, based on land in Weston’s student hall and the Pendulum Hotel on Sackville Street, aims to build another 2,511 student rooms in four buildings, the highest with 50 floors.
The plans were also opposed by local residents with a total of 69 objections to the proposal.
One objector said the number of student bedrooms planned for the area could see this corner of the city center become its own ‘small town’.
Another added: “The development will generate a lot of delivery, taxi and vehicular movement, especially as students move in and out. This could cause congestion, noise and safety issues on already overcrowded roads.”
Residents have criticized the student accommodation proposal(Image: Planning document)
Council bosses who looked at the plans said it would bring ‘significant economic benefits’ to Manchester, creating 220 jobs over seven years and adding more than £240m to the Greater Manchester economy.
The plan will be decided at the council’s planning committee on Thursday, October 22. Council officers recommended that the plans be approved.