Tower building boom hits central Manchester
A development of 25 tower blocks in the Great Jackson Street area of Manchester could bring an additional 6,300 homes to the city, according to proposals. Deloitte Real Estate reported that the majority of homes would be one to three-bedroom flats, with no more than 33% having one bedroom. In addition, family-oriented townhouses are not ruled out. Deloitte added: “Potential ground floor uses could include retail and leisure" while "no nightclub-type uses or other potentially anti-social night-time" usage would be allowed after 11pm. The tallest tower planned is 64 storeys high.

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This is the development that could transform the skyline of Manchester city centre... and it’s been a decade in the making.

A total of 25 towers – seven of which are more than 40 storeys tall – have been earmarked for the area around Great Jackson Street, with some already under construction.

Plans to transform the south of Manchester city centre have been been on the table for years... but these new images give a glimpse of how the scheme would finally look.

Proposals for the scheme were published two years ago but a new revised document promises to increase the height of some towers and raise the number of homes and apartments to more than 6,300.

(Image: Deloitte Real Estate)

The development will stretch right out to the Hulme border as part of a strategy to expand the city centre’s borders and would include restaurants, cafes, shops, and even gyms.

Several huge towers, one of which is 64 storeys in height, are already being built at Owen Street, near Deansgate, while developers DeTrafford received permission in September for a fresh cluster of skyscrapers just across the road.

The updated blueprints, which have just been revealed, show that the apartment blocks destined for the Mancunian Way/Chester Road corner of the site will also be taller than originally anticipated, after planners decided that ‘a development of a greater height could be accommodated’.

A cluster of seven buildings, known as Plot C ‘Crown Street’, will range from 50, 46, and 39 storeys in height.

It is the largest of the eight plots in the Great Jackson Street development, and this cluster alone is expected to boast almost 1,900 homes.

(Image: Deloitte Real Estate)

According to the plans, the tallest buildings will be on the outskirts of the developed area, and should ‘step down in height towards the centre of the framework area’.

The document, put together by Deloitte Real Estate, says the majority of homes will be one, two and three-bed apartment.. but does not rule out the possiblity of more family-oriented town houses.

It said: “The overall mix of apartments will be justified per plot based on market demand; however, a maximum of 33 per cent one-bed apartments should be sought.

“Opportunities to introduce Town Houses, with their own front doors and defensible space, will be used as an alternative means of creating active frontages and encouraging safe and well animated public realm.”

(Image: SimpsonHaugh & Partners)

It also provided more details on the amenities the development would bring with it, stating: “In order to provide a long-term, sustainable residential development, there will be a need to ensure a convenience offer which includes an attractive range of amenities in order to satisfy the immediate needs of the resident population - such as morning workouts, evening drinks and daily necessities.”

The document adds: “Potential ground floor uses could include retail and leisure uses such as restaurants, cafes and local convenience stores, as well as amenity facilities to support the primary

residential use, such as a residents’ lounge, gym, health care facilities and flexible working space.”

Deloitte however said in the plans that there would be no ‘nightclub-type uses or other potentially anti-social night-time’ of buildings later than 11pm.