Renaker plots more skyscrapers at Great Jackson Street 

The developer has unveiled plans for a pair of 51-storey towers close to Deansgate Square in Manchester. 

The Renaker scheme, designed by SimpsonHaugh, comprises 988 homes featuring a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments 

Plot F wraps around the southern corner of Deansgate Square, which features a 64-storey tower, and is bordered by Great Jackson Street. 

Renaker anticipates submitting a full planning application for the scheme this summer. Deloitte Real Estate is the planning consultant and TPM Landscape is the landscape architect.

The project, which is to feature half an acre of public realm between the two skyscrapers, is the latest to come forward within the Great Jackson Street regeneration area.  

Renaker completed the four-tower, 1,500-home Deansgate Square earlier this year, while a further 1,529 new homes are under construction across Elizabeth Tower, Circle and the Blade. 

Nearby, plans for Park Place, a scheme featuring 1,037 apartments across two 56-storey towers, were submitted to Manchester City Council in March.

The developer behind the £350m project is Great Jackson Street Estates, controlled by Salford-based investor Aubrey Weis, which owns Plot G within the Great Jackson Street masterplan.

Your Comments

Read our comments policy

Is that really Simpson Haugh?
Looks nothing like what they normally do.

By Juan

These surely can’t get through, they’re barely any different to the existing 4 that already have an alarming walling affect. I am all for talls, particularly in an area designated for talls but these are not good.

By Surely not

What does this mean for the councilman carefully constructed SRF?

Deansgate Square was envisioned as a high rise cluster due to its position as a fulcrum at intersecting axes the city’s streets; there was a logic to the various heights and arrangements of masses and visually it works very well.

If it subsequently becomes this amorphous blob of grey glassy towers, what was the point? The effect is ruined and the positive impact of DS reduced.

By High Shyster

I hope these don’t get approved – not because I’m opposed to more towers in this location, but surely we need to have some more variation in the designs. There are far too many towers here all designed by SimpsonHaugh that have almost identical cladding and design.

By Manc Man

Just need to amend the cladding to something darker and it’ll be a winner – love the shape

By Alex

Interesting.
I think a goldish hew instead of silvery would be better.

PLEASE no more chequer board! Please go for a sleek look like the Gate & Style near Victoria Station.

Why not drop one tower by 5 floors and raise the other by 5 so theres a 46 and a 56?

Can we have a something other than a flat roof? Its just dead space otherwise. How about looking at One Canada Square and go for a diamond shaped roof? Could even get an indoor green space in there and create a great place to enjoy a meal.

This is Manchester and we can do anything! We need to be ambitious to cement second city status.

By MrP

This area is Manchester is becoming high density house via tower blocks. It’s a concern that public services to this area are not progressing to match this new demand. Looks great now but 20 years down the line this may be very different. Development is great, over development a concern.

By Lee Burkitt

Love the design of them but the cladding needs to be more of a contrast to DS.

By Steve

Manchester needs to be more ambitious than this now. 56 storeys might have made everyone excited ten years ago but is just another tower in this city today. We still do not have the Mancunian signature building yet and despite the second city claim, don’t forget Birmingham will have HS2 a long time before we do so we need to be ready to keep advancing and innovating to keep people interested. Why not build one colossal skyscraper rather than two more average structures?

By Elephant

I think there needs to be variation in height, otherwise this will look like a wall rather than a cluster. Personally, I think both being a bit smaller than 50 would work well (e.g., ~35, ~45 stories) in the context of some of the others.

Also, as others have mentioned, some variation in design would be nice.

By Chris

Other cities were building these type of high-rises 30 years ago .. Manchester will look even grimmer than ever!

By Anonymous

Imagine being that desperate to be second.

Another sad chapter in the development of Genericsville

By Unique

Although a couple of clearly uniformed or should that that be slightly jealous comments from the usual suspects I think most commenters have it right on the height variation. Deansgate square goes up to 64 stories but the Blade and Cylinder (thankfully not square designs) and the almost Complete Victoria tower seem to all be all around the 51, 52 stories. I know there are many more proposed for this area so it is appropriate to go tall and as long as the quality is there let’s go taller. It already looks quite spectacular coming over the Mancunian way so will look even better in a few more years. Can’t wait to see how it continues to develop.

By Anonymous

Stop it – just stop it. This should be how cities are designed – faceless glass towers arent what the city needs. Canary Wharf fine… here – NO! Surely Simpson Haugh could try a bit harder?

By manc

I’m waiting for a roof like the Chrysler or Empire State buildings. It will be a cold day in Hell when someone comes up with something more than a shoebox.

By Tony Heyes

Looks great, love the look, towers concentrated together in a couple of areas like here and Greengate gives a look and a height that’s really in context, more please!

By Anonymous

Dull as ditchwater, come on Manchester City Council, lets change the record

By Oscar

I prefer the simpler designs by miles. But they do need some more variation going forward in order to get a contrasting effect.

IMO they should start tapping into Manchester’s Victorian and gothic architectural styles.

By Anonymous

Yes I want a 75-storey one next with the kind of Pinnacle King Kong could swing from. Give Renaker time ..it will happen!

By Son of Kong

Nothing quite like this area anywhere in the UK. I particularly like the look of the new Elizabeth tower. Simple renders never do any justice to the completed building,s but as a growing and now very significant cluster this is already looking spectacular.

By Mike

Where I live we can’t even get much over 35 stories built, so well done Manchester . Not jealous but definitely frustrated.

By Tufty

The Lexington Liverpool is a prime example of how quality high rises should be built , its easy on the eye , something like they build in London or New York – not 1960’s Delhi

By Anonymous

The plans for this area over the coming years look spectacular. Looking at the plans there’s even a school being built which is what the area will need . The city centre is expanding out in all direction,and apparently up.

By Anonymous

I live in the South Tower and absolutely love it, including The Club.

Would advise the hateful commenters to come and visit, the towers can look stunning on a sunset. Not many high rise buildings can say that in the UK, particularly outside of London.

By Anonymous

I agree, looking at these from the rooftop terrace in No1 Spinningfields at sunset it really does look amazing. As for the haters, I’m pretty sure we all know who and why, all rather irrelevant and slightly sad though.

By Anonymous

I am a very proud Manc and love all the towers, but lets get some variation in the designs, looking forward to seeing the blade and round tower but lets have a signature tower with a diamond roof say 70 plus floors, just starting to look a little samey.

By Jonny H

Related Articles

Sign up to receive the Place Daily Briefing

Join more than 13,000 property professionals and receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox

Subscribe

Join more than 13,000 property professionals and sign up to receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

"*" indicates required fields

Your Job Field*
Other regional Publications - select below