Councillors have postponed their decision on plans for an office block in Manchester's Northern Quarter amid debate over the demolition of a historically significant building.

Developers Soller Nine are hoping to demolish some buildings within the block bordered by Lever Street, Great Ancoats Street, Little Lever Street, and Houldsworth Street, near the Bem Brasil restaurant.

They plan to replace them with an 18-storey office block boasting 180,000 sq ft of floorspace, reusing some facades as entrances. The developers claim this will contribute £34 million to Manchester's economy.

Some structures on the site date back to 1781, while others are from the Victorian era. The developers argue that 'a number of buildings' on the plot 'are unsafe, as demonstrated by the partial collapse in May', necessitating their demolition and redevelopment.

However, heritage groups have criticised the plan. The Victorian Society contends that the demolition would cause 'significant harm', as it would result in the loss of 'the former Land O' Cakes Public House', which 'played an historically significant role as the founding place of the world's first working-class party, The National Charter Association in 1840', according to a council report.

"It, therefore, is not only greatly important to the history of working-class culture in Manchester but nationally as well as internationally significant," the report adds, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The report had initially concluded that the economic and public benefits would surpass the loss of heritage buildings, recommending councillors to approve planning permission at the Thursday (December 19) meeting. However, the committee has opted to postpone their decision to further assess what Manchester might lose.

"I am concerned we seem to be saving the facades of two buildings, but not actually the ones with a link to Manchester's residents, the residential aspect on Houldsworth Street," Coun Angela Gartside said during the Town Hall meeting. "I know the area, I know it's been in decline and it's a useful development to have, to bring in that business. But I think it's important [to say] that it's not one or two buildings that are important, it's the normal, working-class, everyday buildings that are important too."

The councillors will now conduct a site visit before the next planning meeting scheduled for late January, where they are expected to reach a final verdict on the application.