New apartments behind Chorlton social club will cause 'total chaos', warn neighbours

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Plans to build a block of flats behind a social club in South Manchester have been given the green light despite concerns it would cause parking 'chaos'.

The car park behind the Chorlton Irish Club was sold to housing association Southway last year with plans to build 29 affordable apartments on the site. The club has been closed since the first Covid lockdown, but the subsequent sale was supposed to help trustees clear historic debts, allowing it to reopen.

Residents raised concerns about the height of the new four-storey building on Cross Road – and some were still not satisfied even after it was redesigned. But councillors claimed it would create 'total chaos' when busy events are held at the social club once it reopens with a car park which is smaller than before.

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Lib Dem councillor John Leech, who sits on Manchester's planning committee, said the club will be left with just 13 parking spaces if the car park is built on. He said: "I just don't see how realistically on a busy event at the Irish Club there wouldn't be complete chaos outside."

Nevertheless, town hall bosses instructed the committee to 'ignore' the fact that the land in question was a car park because it has already been sold off. Residents also objected to the plans, focusing on the height of the building.

Ex-architect Anthony Matthews, who has lived on Cross Road for 50 years, said he supports the principle of the scheme, but believe the block is 'too tall'. Some changes were made to the initial design of the development following feedback from residents, but objectors claim their views have been 'ignored'.

Mr Matthews said the development would increase the number of