![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1754478555_894_0_Gvs-of-Hulme.jpg\")
(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\nA court case against the mayor’s office concluded last month(Image: Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News)<\/p>\n
Andy Burnham\u2019s office and Manchester council have hit back against allegations \u2018there is something amiss in the way Manchester\u2019s governing bodies function\u2019.<\/p>\n
The Weis Group claims Renaker, behind Manchester\u2019s tallest tower, told the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) two proposed projects were financially viable enough to secure \u00a3140m of loans.<\/p>\n
The firm, major city centre landowners, also claims Renaker told Manchester council \u2018Trinity Islands\u2019 and \u2018Contour\u2019 were not viable enough to build affordable housing<\/a>. Council rules say affordable units must be included if a developer will make more than 20pc profit.<\/p>\n To see planning applications; traffic and road diversions and layout changes; and more, visit the Public Notices Portal HERE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Weis claims Renaker\u2019s ability to be viable in the GMCA\u2019s eyes, but not viable enough in Manchester council\u2019s, suggest \u2018there is something amiss in the way Manchester\u2019s governing bodies function\u2019.<\/p>\n The allegations were first made in court at the Competition Appeals Tribunal (CAT) by lawyers acting for Aubrey Weis in May.<\/p>\n \u201cThe CAT ruling stated that for the Trinity Island and Plot F\/Contour sites the \u2018Renaker Group provide[d] substantial information and data which projected that the projects were viable\u2019 to the GMCA,\u201d a Weis Group spokesperson said after proceedings finished.<\/p>\n \u201cAs such the CAT argued \u2018there were solid grounds to conclude that the developments were both viable and profitable\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cYet Manchester council required no material affordable housing contributions on the same developments because they were provided with different information. The apparent manipulation of the planning system has been brought to the attention of both the GMCA and Manchester City Council but they continue to turn a blind eye, leading to the troubling conclusion that there is something amiss in the way Manchester\u2019s governing bodies function.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr Weis sued the GMCA last year, claiming its decision to approve the two loans \u2018distorted\u2019 Manchester city centre<\/a>\u2019s property market.<\/p>\n