A demolished pub on Chapel Street in Salford will be replaced by an 8-storey tower block after plans were finally passed by Salford City Council.
The Albert Vaults development has been back to the drawing board more than once since it was proposed as a 12-storey apartment block in early 2014.
The pub sat on a tiny parcel of land right next to Victorian railway bridge for the Liverpool to Manchester train line, around 550 yards from Salford Crescent Station.
It closed in 2009.
Planning consent was granted some five years ago to convert the ground floor of the pub into a cultural centre and homeless shelter for the New Generation Missionary Project.
This landmark build never went ahead, and the pub was knocked down leaving just bare earth.
The former Albert Vaults – Stephen Broadhurst
The pub under demolition in 2012 – Matt Doran
In November 2014 agents Paul Butler Associates, on behalf of Sir Richard Lapthorne, submitted an application to Salford City Council for a 40-metre tower block in its place, with 40 one-bedroom flats across 11-storeys and a retail store on the ground floor.
The plans were pulled after they got a knock-back over the height and scale of the scheme.
There was been much to-ing and fro-ing behind the scenes as planners sought to strike a balance between the proposed height of the building with their expected profit margins.
They thought a 16-storey tower block would suit the area but it wasn’t to be – despite similar sized developments in the local area.
Facing the site across Chapel Street are the 11-storey Spectrum apartment block, the former Manchester Modernist Society headquarters and the Grade II-listed Chapel Street and Hope United Reform Church.
After reducing to 11 storeys they settled on eight as a decent compromise.
Planning documents stated the “prominent yet disused brownfield site…currently detracts from the visual appeal of the local area” and that the proposed scheme would provide one-bed flats where there is identified need for professionals and first time buyers”.
Now with consent granted work can start on the block of 24 apartments with 5,000sq ft of A2 commercial space on the ground floor.
