It’s really important for all of Manchester and other cities that this development isn’t allowed to happen. What they get away with here will send a signal to other developers that our communities are fair game. 

The Background  

Private developers, Curlew Alternatives Eighth Property LP, have been pushing for permission to build student accommodation on the site of the former Gamecock pub in Hulme for years.  

Not only do these plans ignore the needs of the existing community in Hulme, but building a 9-storey block on this relatively tiny piece of land would completely overshadow the surrounding area. Development work would also create gridlock at this key public transport artery for the city. 

These are just some of the reasons that the planning committee had previously refused the plans on four separate occasions.  

But Manchester City Council allowed the developers to come back again and again. The planning office exploited the use of the Council’s own written constitution, telling the committee that they could only make a ‘minded to refuse’ verdict, effectively permanently deferring final refusal. This gave the developers an advantage.  

Now, on the fifth attempt, the development has been given the green light.  

We believe that this decision was made unlawfully, and we need your help to stop this development going ahead! 

We need £10,000 to protect the campaign from adverse legal costs. Donate now and share our appeal with friends, family and colleagues. 

“We were astonished when the Planning Committee went back on its previous view on this proposal. It feels like somebody bent the rules to get this through.”   

What’s the issue?  

Councils must follow rules and policies when they grant planning permission for new developments. This decision will send a signal to other developers that our communities are fair game.  

We want to take the council to the High Court, challenging the decision on the following grounds:   

• Planning officers told the committee that there was no lawful reason for them to refuse the application, and that if they did want to refuse, they would have to be ‘minded to’ refuse again. This was wrong. Planning committees always have the power to refuse  

• Planning officers seriously misled the committee - they said they could not refuse the application again.

• Planning officers failed to give reasons for deviating from a decision to refuse planning permission for a similar project on the same site in 2012. Planning law states that a local planning authority must show consistency in their decision-making  

This is not the first time that the council has allowed developers to make their case several times. 

How can we trust that planning decisions will follow any due process if they can continue to apply to the planning committee until they get the answer they want? 

What are we doing about it?  

We’ve been fighting to stop profit-hungry developers from encroaching on our community for many years. We already have a plan that includes a social centre and social housing to serve the existing community.  

We need the decision to build student accommodation here to be quashed, so that the community plan can be re-platformed as an alternative for the site.   

“I have nothing against students - but we are losing our sense of community as students are transient and leave when their studies finish.” 

Why do we need your support?  

Public Interest Law Centre with the assistance of Greater Manchester Law Centre are supporting us with our legal case.  

Our legal team is working on this challenge on a ‘conditional fee agreement’, meaning that the resident bringing the case will not be liable for legal costs.  

We need to raise money to protect the resident from legal cost liability should the judicial review be unsuccessful. 

We believe the council has granted permission unlawfully, and that we have a strong chance of success. However, this resident simply cannot afford to take the risk without your support.  

For updates on the campaign, follow @blocktheblock1 and @gmtenantsunion. 

Where will my money go?   

All the money raised will go towards protecting this resident from adverse legal costs in the event that the challenge is unsuccessful.  

As the PILC legal team are working pro bono on this case. Any remaining funds after all costs and disbursements will be used to cover some of their actual working time. 

Should the challenge be successful, the donations made will be shared between PILC, Greater Manchester Tenants Union and Block the Block campaign, and put towards developing the alternative plan.  

If you’d like further information about the case or have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch at [email protected].