First images of new era for Manchester’s original skyscraper
A restaurant at levels 25 and 26 of the CIS Tower will complement 332,000 sq ft of office space and a host of other uses.
Lenrose Ventures, which has been appointed as development manager by the Jersey-based owners of the 28-storey Manchester icon, lodged plans for the long-awaited redevelopment project in late June.
Those plans, designed by SimpsonHaugh Architects, can now be viewed online by searching for reference number 143314/LO/2025 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.
The proposals represent an “evolution” of earlier approved plans for the building put forward by Castlebrooke Investments, according to a planning statement prepared by Deloitte.
A 20,000 sq ft restaurant at levels 25 and 26 has been added into the vision for the building, while a communal external terrace, a business lounge, and coworking space are planned at level seven.
The tower was built in the 1960s and was Europe’s third tallest at the time. Credit: PNW
Some 9,000 sq ft of retail space, 36,000 sq ft of leisure accommodation, and 17,500 sq ft of office amenity space including a gym are also proposed.
A three-storey upward extension of the podium, a feature of the last set of plans, remains. Overall, the building will provide 446,000 sq ft NIA of lettable space.
Externally, the tower’s single-glazed façade will be swapped out and the solar panels on the distinctive blue service core will also be replaced.
The wider project team features: Re-form Landscape Architecture, Hann Tucker, Colliers, Stephen Levrant Heritage Architecture, Curtins, Crookes Walker Consulting, Design Fire Consultants, Ramboll, TFT Consultants, Cundall, Arcaero, Gardiner & Theobald, ORSA, OurStudio, Penny Anderson Associates
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The OG
By Anonymous
Manchester is absolutely smashing it
By Anonymous
It can’t be made any worse.
By NNil
If it was Manchesters first skyscraper and also the UKs tallest building when built then surely its also the UKs very first skyscraper too 🤷🏼♂️
By Cristoforo
I worked in the catering Dept of the CIS building in the basement kitchen & canteen around 1975 I was 18 yrs old I am retired now. The building was amazing it also had a executive restaurant near the top that I also worked in & my breaks i would visit the observation room at the top & look out as far as the eye could see & also look closer to the building at Strangeways prison & see the prisoners in the exercise yard. Brilliant memories of my time at the CIS.
By Brendan McArdle
The interior design is safe and a bit bland. It would have been great to see more of a 1960s/70s vibe. This would reflect the age of the building.
By Anonymous
Absolutely fantastic Delighted to see such an iconic building reaching it’s potential .It’s long over due.The building has many happy memories from days gone by as it will be by many of the people who worked there.
By Anonymous
No originality, I knew there was asbestos in entire building, had a tour back in 99 and went out on roof seing manchester which is now looking like london no more Greenland just carparks and endless apartments which no can afford. Glad it’s a granted grade 2 listed building, can’t wait to review 26th floor where board room was with the companies achievements what a building only 1 of few manchesters iconic buildings, stood prood for a few years after completing in 1962. Can’t wait to see after visiting in 99 till next year before this is up and running to see how much has changed with my favourite manchester building
By Anonymous
Well at least it shouldn’t turn out to be just another pile of “luxury” apartments!
By Duchy Guy
Interior spaces look quite dull and uninspiring. I’m sure these are placeholder schemes- but dont really capture the imagination
By Anonymous
I wonder who the main contractor will be ?
By Anon
This will not happen until the market is crazy again. It has missed its time. Not viable and no one wants it. This is being done to keep the debt happy.
By David Jones
Fingers crossed they find the Tenants for this. The restaurant will be a big ask in this part of town
By Anonymous
it will always be an eyesore of a building
By Anonymous