Top music venue shares concerns after 44-storey building approved next door

'We are still open to dialogue'

A beloved live music venue in the city centre has shared concerns about approved plans for a huge 44-storey apartment building development which would be situated on the same road to them.

The music venue on Whitworth Street West has been going strong for 12 years now and regularly hosts live events and gigs, with recent shows from the likes of Blacktop Mojo, Black Spiders and Carpathian Forest filling its varied line-up.

But Rebellion’s owners have claimed they were given ‘a concerning lack’ of consideration when it came to the proposals for a 44-storey development from Glenbrook, which would consist of 364 one, two, and three-bedroom apartments on underused land near to the venue.

According to the developer, the £118m skyscraper, opposite Deansgate Locks, will ‘push the boundaries of city-centre living’ and will consist of terracotta-coloured cladding and a series of arches at street level. Inside, it will include resident lounges, workspaces, and health and wellbeing facilities.

Rebellion said they were ‘denied a fair chance to submit an objection in time’, but Manchester Council said letters were sent to the venue in January and March informing them of the proposals, whilst planning notices were also shared online and via signs in the local area.

Manchester Council said it was 'very aware of the sensitivities' surrounding the location of Rebellion next to the development plans, whilst Glenbrook said it has 'fully considered the environmental factors associated with existing use' and has carried out an 'extensive consultation process' regarding the plans.

They allege that the 400-capacity venue was also repeatedly referred to as a ‘nightclub’ and as a ‘weekend’ venue, demonstrating a ‘widespread misunderstanding of what we do’. In a statement, they said: “This omission raises serious questions about whether future residents will be fully informed, and whether adequate protections are in place for both them and us.”

Rebellion has also claimed that sound measurements of the venue during a weekday gig have not yet been conducted. Glenbrook said its aim is to appoint a main contractor on the development later this year, with work set to start on the site in the first quarter of 2026.

The Manchester Evening News understands that there is a condition in place that means that the development cannot start until strict measures have been put in place to demonstrate that no noise nuisance will be heard by future residents. This is believed to have been agreed by Manchester City Council, the developers Glenbrook and Rebellion.

The concerns from Rebellion come following a years-long row between the council and music venue Night & Day Café, on Oldham Street in the Northern Quarter, which exploded in late 2021 when the venue was served a noise abatement notice.

It was alleged by the council that the bar, which has been part of the city since 1991, was not taking steps to address noise nuisance. The case rumbled on in the courts for years until a judge dismissed Night & Day's appeal against the notice in early 2024, but sided with them on how to remedy the problem.

A statement shared with the Manchester Evening News by Rebellion said: “We would like to begin by making it clear that we fully recognise the need for new housing in Manchester. We want our city to thrive, and we understand the importance of building homes to support that growth.

“However, we do believe that the approach taken by the developers in this instance has left a lot to be desired. From the outset, there was a concerning lack of engagement with us as an existing, long-standing live music venue.”

It added: “We remain hopeful that the council will uphold their commitment to protect cultural spaces like ours in the event that noise complaints arise from the new development. The precedent they set in similar cases gives us some reassurance, but we continue to make this stance now so that any future disputes are not treated in isolation.

“We are still open to dialogue. We would welcome the developer to come and take sound measurements during a busy weekday gig — something which has yet to happen.

“Finally, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to The Music Venue Trust, our supporters, and our wider community for their continued advocacy. Your backing means everything to us.”

A spokesperson for Manchester City Council said: "The Council is very aware of the sensitivities relating to the proximity of Rebellion to this development, and the potential noise nuisance which could be created in the future.

"However, a condition has been placed on the planning permission which prevents the development taking place until the Council is satisfied that it can take place without any noise nuisance being detected in future properties. Work is ongoing to ensure that any solution is satisfactory for all parties."

A spokesperson for Glenbrook said: “As a highly experienced developer with a strong track record of delivering premium residential projects across the region, we are committed to providing thorough consultation prior to undertaking any project and engagement with the communities in which our developments sit.

“With regards to the project at Whitworth Street West, we carried out an extensive consultation process, in addition to the minimum planning requirements.

“As part of this consultation, we reached out to the local businesses surrounding the development site, inviting them both to the public consultation held at HOME in the city centre as well as the offer of a dedicated session. Several local businesses attended the public consultation and engaged with the project team to discuss the proposals.

“We have fully considered the environmental factors associated with existing uses and any impacts have been fully considered in the application submitted and subsequently approved by Manchester City Council.”