Relentless scales down Ancoats skyscraper vision

Liquid Funding Business, which owns the former Stocktons Furniture store site, and JV partner Relentless Developments have worked with SimpsonHaugh Architects to come up with revised proposals for the build-to-rent scheme.

Two towers are still proposed but the taller of the pair has been scaled back to 45 storeys in response to criticism of the scheme from Manchester City Council’s planning committee. 

The 14-metre reduction in height of the taller tower – which brings the scheme in line with the strategic regeneration framework for the area – could help to assuage concerns raised by local ward councillors and planning committee members about its scale.

The haircut could also go some way to addressing worries voiced by residents within the neighbouring Oxygen Tower, who were concerned about the development’s impact on daylight levels within their flats.

The project will feature slightly fewer homes than originally planned, down to 723 from 750. Some 50 of the flats will be available at Manchester Living Rent level. The previous proposal featured no affordable homes at all, which proved to be another bone of contention for the committee.

The second tower is largely unchanged in terms of its height and contents; it stands at 25 storeys as before and providing around 45,000 sq ft of co-working space and 200 apartments as well as a range of residential amenities including a gym, juice bar, and external landscaped terrace.

Relentless’ involvement in the scheme was first reported by Place North West in January. Neville and fellow director Anthony Kilbride became directors of Liquid Funding Manchester in May, formalising its involvement.

Relentless is rapidly amassing a pipeline of projects after completing and filling No1 St Michael’s, an office building off Jacksons Row.

In recent months, the company has added several sites in the St Mary’s Parsonage regeneration zone to its portfolio. The firm is working with Investec on the latter’s long-held ambition to convert the Kendal Milne building on Deansgate into offices and has picked up Reedham House and the cleared site of Alberton House, which are both earmarked for office schemes.

Anthony Kilbride, chief executive of Relentless Developments, said: “Since joining the JV, we’ve reviewed the project with fresh eyes, listened carefully to the comments made during the previous planning process and spent a lot of time assessing the scheme with the existing consultancy team, ward councillors and local residents. We want to make it the best it can be and ensure it meets our ambitions and approach to development.

“From the outset, we have been determined that Stocktons should combine exceptional quality with meaningful social value. We are proposing that 50 of the homes will be available at Manchester Living Rent levels. This will help key workers access high-quality homes in one of Manchester’s most exciting and rapidly evolving neighbourhoods. We believe this approach delivers genuinely affordable homes as part of a high quality, large-scale, build-to-rent development.”

Subject to planning approval, construction work is set to begin towards the end of 2027, with completion planned to coincide with the opening of the Manchester Digital Campus, located across the road at the former Central Retail Park, in 2032.

To learn more about the project, search for reference number 142535/FO/2025 on Manchester City Council’s planning portal.

Turley is the planner. Re-form Landscape Architecture is designing the public realm and Renaissance is the civil and structural engineer. GIA is advising on daylight.

Daniel Green, chief executive of Liquid Business, said: “Liquid Business prides itself on entrepreneurial vision across a diverse range of sectors, and we are delighted to be partnering with Relentless on Stocktons. It is a privilege to work alongside a company with a proven track record in delivering exceptional placemaking and high-quality development for the benefit of Manchester, its businesses, its residents and their shared future.”

“Stocktons reflects our ambition to bring together commercial vision, quality and meaningful social value. We believe the scheme can make a lasting contribution to this part of Manchester and to the city’s continued growth.”