There were two pubs on that site. The Byrom aka the pie shop fronted onto Byrom street and was a plain 60s type buidling only two storeys high. This was surrounded by a works called D. Evans/Tapley. The corner of the block that became Imperial Halls student residence was originally the Dart public house and was incorporated into the residence in the 1990s.
As for the local houses being out of place. We have to remember who was here first. There has been housing in this area for donkeys years, first with the courts/slums - then the Fontenoy Gardens tenements blocks and the coffin blocks up on Standish Street/Marybone. It's only fair that these residents were given new homes but just a few years later, big multi story student accommodation was lumped right behind them overlooking their gardens etc etc.
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I believe another high rise is sheduled for the corner of Gt Crosshall st/Fontenoy St too.
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