Weis Group, owned by developer Aubrey Weis, has won a legal battle against Manchester City Council over its plans to develop a pair of 56-storey residential towers on Great Jackson Street.
Credit: Hodder and Partners
The High Court has ruled that the council acted unreasonably in refusing to allow the demolition of two warehouses to make way for the scheme, a refusal that would have prevented the implementation of a planning permission the council granted for the scheme in 2021.
The scheme would cost between £300m and £350m to develop and would provide more than 1,000 homes.
But the council, which owns the freehold for the Park Place development site, twice refused to allow Weis subsidiary Great Jackson Street Estates (GJSE) to demolish the warehouses, with a council solicitor last month stating it would not “under any circumstances” agree to consent to demolish the buildings.
In a statement seen by Property Week, a Weis Group spokesperson confirmed that the court found all grounds put forward by the council for refusal were unreasonable and stated that the council’s “kitchen sink” approach “highlights the two tier reality of Manchesterism”.
The spokesperson added: “While we are disappointed that senior officers at Manchester City Council took the stance they did, wasting significant time and money, we are pleased we can now move forward implementing the planning consent and look forward to more constructive relations with the council in future.
“This is an important step in bringing much needed regeneration to the local area that will provide a significant contribution to the city of Manchester.”
A spokesperson for the council said it had no plans to launch an appeal, adding that the council “accepted the decision of the High Court.”
Law firm Walker Morris, which represented Weis Group, has been contacted for comment.
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