Fourth Rejection for New Hulme Student Accommodation Plans

For the fourth time in a row, plans for a new nine-storey student accommodation block in Hulme have been rejected by the Manchester City Council’s planning committee. The decision, delivered on October 16, marks the latest development in a three-year dispute involving students, Hulme residents, and the council. 

As per the student housing news, the rejection was based on the argument that the proposed development would create an imbalance of student numbers in a traditional residential area. The Hulme student accommodation, intended to house 146 beds, was planned for a site that was formerly occupied by the Gamecock Pub and is an 11-minute walk from the Students’ Union. Rent for the units was estimated to range between £110 and £230 per month.

Throughout the planning process led by developer Curlew, local residents vehemently opposed the Manchester student housing project. Various Students’ Union societies and students initiated a Google petition, asserting that the negative impact on the local community would far outweigh the need for student housing. The ‘Block the Block campaign’ proposed alternative building projects for the site, such as a seven-storey building, to maximise the impact on the local community. 

The student housing news also highlighted the concerns expressed by the local residents about the residential nature of the area. The residents also expressed concern about the height of the proposed Hulme student accommodation and the use of land that was once home to a pub. In a collective article published in 2020, Hulme residents conveyed unanimous opposition to the development, citing feedback from local business owners and healthcare professionals.

The Manchester student housing project has undergone several modifications since its inception. Originally proposed as a 13-storey building with 261 flats in 2022, it was subsequently reduced to 11 storeys for nearly 200 students. In the most recent planning application, the Hulme student accommodation project has been further scaled back to a nine-storey structure. 

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