Manchester council did not send anyone to a public inquiry taking place just metres away from the town hall this morning (May 23) after making a U-turn on a controversial development. The plans for a block of 75 apartments at the Tesco car park in East Didsbury were rejected by the local authority last year.
But the council has since said it will not defend its decision to refuse planning permission for the flats off Parrs Wood Avenue. It comes after Dandara, the developer behind the Blackbird Yard scheme, lodged an appeal, leading to a public inquiry into the plans which were subject to more than 200 objections.
Local residents and their councillors who protested against the plans spoke at the public inquiry which is taking place this week at Friends Meeting House in Mount Street. But no one from the town hall was actually there when it started.
