Student tower could replace city-centre car park

A new 38-storey tower block could be built on the site of a former car park in Manchester city centre as a home for more than 1,000 students.

Plans for Charles Street site - located between Oxford Road and Piccadilly railway station - have been submitted to Manchester City Council by RG Real Estate Ltd, ID Manchester Ltd, and the University of Manchester.

The proposals include three buildings, the 38-storey tower alongside two small accommodation blocks, offering students a mix of studio flats.

Those behind the scheme said boosting the student population in the area could inject an extra £6.7m into the local economy.

As well as studio apartments, the designs include cluster flats, which is where bedrooms are arranged around communal areas.

Under the plans, changes could be made to nearby streets, including a new pedestrian boulevard along Altrincham Street, a new square, and landscaping along Charles Street.

The scheme is set to be a "car-free" development apart from two disabled parking spaces.

A gym will be included in the site alongside study and support spaces, the developers said.

Some concerns about the affect of the buildings on daylight, safety, and visibility were raised in a public consultation, alongside those about more students coming to the area.

If the plans are approved the developers expect construction to be completed by 2030.

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