The outline planning proposal for Owens Park redevelopment has been submitted. There are currently 3351 people living on the whole of the Fallowfield Campus. The total number of student bedrooms will be 5400 across the Fallowfield campus. This is an 80% increase in numbers, and we have never experienced this level of student numbers in our community. 

Our very strong view is that any increase on current numbers will cause unacceptable harm to our neighbourhood and many adjoining neighbourhoods, e.g., Rusholme, Withington, Levenshulme.

If there is only one thing you do, the most important action is to send a planning objection.

Please object to planning application before the deadline of November 3rd

138126/OO/2023138126/OO/2023 Outline planning application for the phased demolition of existing buildings and phased development of up to 3,300 Purpose Built Student Accommodation

You can comment by email to planning@manchester.gov.uk (sometimes easier if attaching evidence such as photos and videos) Put this reference in your submission. Please also include your name and address.

or online via this link:

https://pa.manchester.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=makeComment&keyVal=S16SMCBC0CT00 

Possible reasons for objecting

• ·        Overburden on bus services along Wilmslow Rd
• ·        Anti-social behaviour
• ·        Noise especially night-time economy
• ·        Pressure on services (street cleansing, out of hours, Drs surgeries etc.),
• ·        Carbon footprint – refurbishing existing Owen’s Park buildings                    (especially Woolton Hall) is more sustainable and more in line with               MCC carbon zero policy
• ·        Harm to local parks (often used as a beer garden),
• ·        Increased drug activity, crime,
• ·        High rise buildings - the design strongly suggests four high rise                   towers (approx .13 storeys high) which is out of character for a                     residential  suburb
• ·        Council policy H12 states that Purpose Built Student Accommodation           should be close to the University campus (i.e. within Oxford Road                 campus up to Whitworth Park)
•          Doesn’t align with MCC’s Age Friendly Manchester Strategy (2023-               2028) placing older people’s voices at the centre of its work.
• ·        This accommodation would primarily be for first years because UoM           guarantee places for first years as a priority. Second and third years             usually want to move into local community. This increase is likely to             multiply demand for accommodation in the neighbourhood and will           have a knock-on effect spilling out into adjoining areas,
• ·        The University argument is strongly based around need. Our                         argument is that Fallowfield is oversaturated and that PBSA should               be built elsewhere,
•          the University are generating the need by constantly increasing their           numbers.

It doesn’t have to be a long or complicated objection.

You can add personal accounts of existing problems and your concerns of how the area will be harmed by any increase in numbers. If you can provide evidence or personal experiences of existing harm (photos, videos, links to news articles), this would be very helpful.

The numbers of objections are really important so please encourage all adults in your household, friends, visiting family to object.

Lobby your ward councillors about your concerns of this application and ask them to strongly object to the increase in numbers.

Copy in the leader of the council Bev Craig cllr.bev.craig@manchester.gov.uk in your email.

If you don’t know who your councillors are, you can find them here:

https://democracy.manchester.gov.uk/mgFindMember.aspx

Thank you! Let our council and Manchester University know how you feel!