Resident Fury as Glass Tower Gets Go Ahead (Cllr Marc Ramsbottom)

Cllr Marc Ramsbottom <info@marcramsbottom.org.uk>

Resident Fury as Glass Tower Gets Go Ahead

February 17, 2007 8:20 PM

Building work may start on site soon, once West Properties have agreed with the Head of Planning about the final height of the scheme.

Building work may start on soon.

Local residents are furious that plans for a 16 storey glass tower at the corner of Princess Street and Whitworth have been given the go ahead by the Labour dominated Planning Committee held on the 15th February 2007.

Despite last minute pleas from residents to members of the Planning Committee who visited the site, developers West Properties were given the go ahead at a later meeting held on the same day. Many residents were outraged that Liberal Democrat members of the Planning Committee were prevented from speaking by the Chairman. Complaints about the conduct of the meeting have been made to the City Solicitor.

At a packed meeting of the Planning Committee City Centre Lib Dem Cllr Marc Ramsbottom spoke out in support of residents objections and said that the plans were 'monolithic and out of keeping with the character of the listed buildings that surround the site. "The design completely disregards the identifiable characteristics and scale of the height of the existing buildings", he said.

Speaking after the meeting he added, "It seems that big business and corporate greed have won out over the interests of local residents and the lesbian and gay community".