Plans in for controversial £30m Manchester tower 

A 27-storey residential scheme, deemed contentious by some commentators due to its proximity to a popular pub, has taken a step forward after Arrowsmith Investment lodged a planning application.

The developer proposes constructing Apex Tower, a slender 72-apartment development, next to the Briton’s Protection pub on the corner of Albion Street and Great Bridgewater Street.  

As well as the apartments, Arrowsmith’s proposals also feature a second, seven-storey infill block between the Jury’s Inn Hotel and the Briton’s Protection on Great Bridgewater Street.   

This will provide an additional four apartments and 2,700 sq ft of office space, which will become Arrowsmith’s new UK headquarters.  

The scheme could also see public realm improvements delivered at the junction of Albion Street and Great Bridgewater Street. 

Arrowsmith launched a consultation on its proposals last November, sparking concerns about the project’s impact on the pub.

Following that consultation, tweaks to the layout of Apex Tower have been made with the aim of improving views of the Briton’s Protection from the west. 

A mural commemorating the Peterloo Massacre will be incorporated into the development. Credit: via planning documents

In addition, a mural commemorating the Peterloo Massacre will be incorporated into the development, aimed at enhancing the pub. 

Many of the concerns raised during the consultation were around the impact the development would have on the pub’s beer garden, specifically as a result of overshadowing. 

However, the applicant states that the scheme would only result in marginally more shading of the beer garden than occurs currently.

Apex Tower would be located in an area of high development activity, close to Property Alliance Group’s Axis Tower, Salboy’s Viadux, and the proposed 35-storey Manchester Tower, being delivered by a joint venture between Featherfoot Whitworth Street and Altrincham-based EGCC Group. 

Arrowsmith’s development would cost £27.3m to build and has a gross development value of £30.6m, according to a viability appraisal by Tim Claxton Property. No affordable housing is proposed.

Leach Rhodes Walker is the architect, Zerum is the planning consultant and Turley is advising on heritage. 

BCEGI is lined up to build the project, according to documents submitted with the planning application. 

Layer.studio is advising on landscape, Kings Associates is the M&E consultant, and GIA is advising on daylight and wind. 

Hydrock, Renaissance, Tyler Grange and Mosodi are also instructed on the project. 

Apex Tower has ruffled feathers Credit: via Counter Context