More than 1,500 flats including two new skyscrapers approved at lively town hall meeting

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Plans to build more than 1,500 apartments across Manchester city centre, including two new skyscrapers, have been given the green light by councillors.

Almost 1,000 apartments - none of which will be affordable - are set to be built in two 51-storey buildings off Great Jackson Street next to Deansgate Square. A 15-storey apartment block featuring 107 flats off Chapeltown Street near Piccadilly Station was also approved despite offering no affordable housing.

But up to 60 pc of the 461 homes which were granted planning permission at the former Boddingtons Brewery site would be affordable, council chiefs said. The planning committee also approved plans to extend Hough End leisure centre by building on the playing fields despite more than 1,000 objections.

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Protesters shouted "shame on you" after councillors voted to grant planning permission for the extension at a town hall meeting on Thursday (March 17). The committee had three major applications to consider after this decision.

A total of 988 apartments are planned as part of the two 51-storey skyscrapers which would be located in the south of the city centre. None of the apartments would be affordable, but Renaker - the developer behind the neighbouring Deansgate Square development - agreed to contribute £90,000 towards affordable housing elsewhere in the city.

Councillors described the sum as an 'insult' – but planning chiefs explained that the development has a relatively low predicted profit margin of 11 pc. Deansgate councillor Joan Davies said the £90,000 sum seems 'ridiculously small' at first glance, but expressed support for the