Manchester's tallest tower is back on track after the council approved the 76-storey skyscraper for the second time. Developer Salboy received approval for its 246m-tall 'Nobu Manchester' tower last month, with the tower set to house a luxury hotel and 452 apartments.
The skyscraper was poised to become Manchester's tallest, surpassing Renaker's Plot D tower, which will stand at 213m upon completion. However, due to 'changes to access' made during the planning process, a 'perhaps overcautious' Manchester council decided to 'reconsult' neighbours, according to Dave Roscoe, a senior figure in the council's planning department.
This led to the application being fully reassessed on Thursday (May 29). Following the reopening of consultation, the Music Venue Trust suggested 'further acoustic testing should be undertaken' on nearby music venue Rebellion, due to concerns about potential complaints from new residents.
"It is a long-established Mancunian cultural space, hosting more than 220 events annually since 2013," a council report prepared before the meeting said of the Trust's objection.
Mr Roscoe stated at Thursday's town hall meeting that both Rebellion and convention centre Manchester Central - which initially opposed the development - would undergo further acoustic testing to assess the impact of noise from the venues on Nobu Manchester.
Council members once again gave the green light to the development.
Salboy's managing director, Simon Ismail, said: "As the location of not just the tallest tower outside London but a large number of high quality affordable homes, Viadux has the potential to become a symbol of this city's aspirations and confidence in itself. Viadux now promises to shape not only Manchester's skyline for years to come, but the city's sense of identity on the global stage."
A similar scenario occurred with another local residential block that has been earmarked for construction on Whitworth Street West.
This £118M, 44-storey skyscraper is also a stone's throw from Rebellion, and the Music Venue Trust has insisted that its 'operators must be actively included, and venue operations appropriately surveyed', according to the same report.
The report added: "Without consideration of the venue this proposal would have an adverse impact on the cultural organisation's ongoing viability and would result in homes with unacceptable amenity and quality."
