It’s the latest twist in the planning saga in Manchester
Plans to demolish two Victorian ‘Italianate’ buildings next to a city centre park have hit a major snag.
The future of 1 Parsonage and 5 Parsonage, warehouses built in the 1860s and 1870s respectively, looks to be in doubt after developers Beaconsfield Commercial Ltd requested planning permission to build a new 14-storey block in their place. The duo are now offices which Beaconsfield says ‘are in a deteriorated condition and no longer meet office occupier standards’, prompting the bid for new offices with a restaurant and bar on the ground floor.
It’s not the first time redevelopment was eyed for the Victorian warehouses, with a previous plan to replace them with a glass tower abandoned following worries about its height, compatibility with the area, and the level of demand to fill proposed offices.
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However, the 14-storey block’s future is now uncertain after heritage group Historic England formally objected to the move, saying demolition would cause significant and irreversible harm to the conservation area.
“At Historic England we’re always keen to work with developers to find solutions that deliver growth while respecting Manchester’s unique character,” said Catherine Dewar, its north west director.
“We’ve done this successfully on schemes like St Michael’s, where collaboration led to a better outcome for the city’s heritage. Sadly, the current proposals for Parsonage Gardens don’t strike that balance and we would lose some of Manchester’s heritage as a result.
“Demolishing these buildings would cause significant and irreversible harm to the conservation area and the new tower would dominate the setting of one of the city centre’s rare green open spaces.
“Manchester’s heritage is one of its greatest assets and a great source of pride for people who love this city. Research shows that properties in conservation areas see values rise by around 9pc so looking after historic places like Parsonage Gardens isn’t just the right thing to do – it makes good economic sense too.”
Opposition has also been expressed by neighbours, who also previously said demolition would ‘harm’ to the conservation area, and the influence on existing buildings.