Councillors approve plans for Manchester’s tallest skyscraper

Plans to build the tallest skyscraper in Manchester have been approved by the city council following a decision by councillors to give the green light to four new residential skyscrapers, including one rising more than 60 storeys high.

The buildings will be built in Owen Street, near Deansgate railway station, on land previously used as a car park and architect Ian Simpson's scheme includes 1,500 apartments, basement car parking and a cinema.

The proposals by CQ Investments, part of the Renaker Build group of companies will see the tallest tower standing at 200m (656ft), 17 storeys bigger than the current highest building in the city, Beetham Tower, which is 168m (551ft) over 47 storeys.

More than 100 local residents had objected to the council about the plans claiming that the buildings would look out of place and do not provide affordable housing. Manchester City Council countered by saying that it would be "a striking landmark development" that would regenerate the area.

The four main towers will range between 37 and 64 storeys, with a further three-storey building housing a tennis court, swimming pool and retail units. The plans include an amenity building for residents and a new public square with food and drink outlets on the southern edge of the city.

Across the scheme, there would be 303 one-bed, 1,000 two-bed and 189 three-bed homes. The scheme architects are SimpsonHaugh and Partners, who also designed Beetham Tower.

Andy Finch, head of sales at Renaker Build, said: "We are thrilled to have received permission for our latest development which will be the first within the Great Jackson Street framework, creating a new community at the southern gateway to the core of Manchester city centre. This development has been designed with a wide range of apartment types, the vast majority of which are significantly more generous than purchasers will find elsewhere in the city.”

Construction is expected to start in the summer of 2016 with building work due to last for approximately 54 months. The scheme should be fully operational by 2020.