Sporting star Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff’s plans for a new skyscraper have been rejected over fears that the 35-storey building would tower over Castlefield.
According to Manchester Evening News, the plans were rejected by the town hall’s planning panel this afternoon (October 18) over concerns the structure would overshadow the Castlefield conservation area and the nearby listed St George’s church.
The former England cricketer submitted a planning application to construct the skyscraper in June as part of a 400-bed apartment scheme in Manchester’s Castlefield district. The scheme included a 35-storey tower, housing 159 flats, that was to be built at the site between Worsley Street, Arundel Street, Ellesmere Street and Mancunian Way.
The plan also included a horseshoe-shaped 10-storey blo
Prior to the decision, Castlefield residents had voiced their objections to the development, launching a petition for Manchester City Council to reject the application which drew more than 600 names.
Residents said they believed the two buildings would not blend together or compliment the surrounding buildings, which include the Grade II listed St Georges Church. They also feared the development would cause neighbouring residential blocks to lose their only source of light, as well as issues with parking, traffic and road safety.
The project would have been the cricketers first foray into property development and would have been undertaken through Logik Developments, the company he chairs with cousin Neil Spencer and business partner Tony Bhatti.