Sir Henry Royce Institute, Castlefield Towers and Citu NQ all gain approval

IT’S been an interesting afternoon over at the Planning and Highways Committee. In between an application for an extension to a two-storey semi on Dene Road and the replacement of a hairdressers with a take-away on Barlow Moor Road, three major city centre schemes have also been given the nod from Town Hall. Sir Henry Royce Institute

Announced as part of Chancellor George Osborne’s 2014 Autumn Statement, this major new £150m science research centre – located next to the Alan Turing Building off Upper Brook Street - will become the UK’s leading centre for advanced materials research and commercialisation and form part of the University of Manchester’s £1 billion ten year campus overhaul. Expected to open in 2019, at almost 50 metres high the NBBJ-designed Royce building will be the tallest on campus and house up to 550 scientists. More here. 2-4 Chester Road

Renaker’s controversial Castlefield towers scheme has also been given the nod, despite opposition from local residents, businesses and councillors (read here). Designed by OMI Architects, the 21 and 12 storey towers, bounded by Chester Road, Castle Quay and the Bridgewater Canal, will provide 188 apartments, a swimming pool and a gym on 3700 sq metres of vacant land formerly occupied by Quay Bar. More here. Citu NQ

