Renaker unveils plans for Manchester’s first 70-storey skyscraper

See also every other Renaker/Simpson-Haugh collaboration. Boring. Renaker have clearly found their sweet spot in terms of efficiency but I find FEC’s and Salboy’s designs much more creative and exciting nowadays.

Ah yes, an inspiring glass square box from SimpsonHaugh. Revolution is afoot

This is what I’m taking about!

It’s going to be very grim at ground level, dark and windy, not an area where anybody will linger, See Ancoats and Middlewood Locks for successful development, I hope other british cities don’t follow suit

It’s good to see 5 more (what I believe will be) 150m+ towers, but I’m quite disappointed they aren’t taller. There was a real opportunity here to add a 300m+ super tall skyscraper and 4 200m+ in the central section, such a shame. I just hope the one remaining plot will contain that supertall!

I agree with the other comments, whilst it would be great to see a 71 story building in Manchester, can we please, please, have some variation in the designs of these buildings. This whole Jackson Street Masterplan is turning into one massive missed opportunity to create a neighborhood that should have been transformational for the city.

Great to see a focus on public realm and retail with this one

@MancMan You’re witnessing a series of empty car parks transformed into a skyscraper district. If that isn’t transformational, I don’t know what is.

I think the plan is amazing. The entire development of that area would look really nice at the end.
The design wise I do feel that some adjustments should be made to make it look quite unique and stand out from the rest. However I mean the building doesn’t look that bad and it being called the lighthouse, I’d assume that the top floors where the pool and restaurant is situated would be lit up at night time, giving it a sort of unique touch.
To the people complaining about it being windy and dark at the bottom need to calm down instead of compaining as it would look much better for there to be one massive bunch of buildings in one area than it being all spread around. I’m sure there still Will be be sunlight coming through.

The aspiring futuristic skyline to the south of Manchester’s city centre certainly looks set to become a lot more dystopian. What utterly soulless additions to the existing cluster of towers. Yet more checkerboard cladding (it didn’t look good on the first tower, it won’t on the twelfth), a glazed plateau of monotony on the skyline – those four blocks are beyond oppressive. Absolutely no attempt at design or flair, no consideration for the end user, no consideration for the wider community – purely driven by profit, greed and the unchallenged megalomaniac vision of one practice to turn a northern city into some bleak 21st Le Corbusier-esque cinematic vision akin to scenes from ‘Inception’.

By all means build up, it’s fantastic to see – but rotate the towers around, stop designing so many of them to be the same height, give us some terrestrial materials and a wider aesthetic palette and put some thought into the human scale. I hope this termite mecca goes through some serious (much needed) redesigning.

10 Floors, 50 Floors 300 Floors, its just a monotonous massing of bland. Manchester wants to be the 2nd city taking over from brum, its certainly pushing it in the ugly architecture stakes.

Great! Another generic glass box bashed out in Revit it is….

Taller. We can get that to 250m I’m sure.

I think this is great news and Manchester is going to have an amazing skyline 5 years from now – nothing like it anywhere else outside London. Whilst it would be nice to have more variation in design I’m sure over the coming decades other developments will add contrasting styles.

Has everyone lost the plot! This is transformational for the City. Middlewood Locks (referenced in the comments) is fantastic, but so is this! There’s plenty of variety all across the city now, with MWL, FEC and Salboy, all progressing fantastically. Hard pushed to find a more prolific developer than Renaker in the country. They’re a huge credit (and asset) to the city. Keep it coming!

While very much down with Manchester securing all this investment in new homes…boy oh boy is the architecture coming forward bland and uninspiring. Central Manchester now just resembles any other global city …or maybe just a corner of Sao Paulo. Very disappointing….contributors earlier to this thread all make salient points about how bland and generic this all is.

This has to be one of the least inspiring developments anywhere in Europe. Another bland tower of absolutely no architectural merit to add to all the others of the same design! Not only is it a scar on the Cityscape the ground level is bland beyond believe- totally soulless. How has this been allowed to happen. Manchester deserves better than this.

Hi Anonymous. Worth noting that this story is about a consultation starting. Planning permission has not yet been secured. – J

January 30, 2023 at 1:43 pm

By Julia Hatmaker

The aspiration is good and the move towards podiums with actual streets that serve human beings…. however the materiality should change to give a bit more diversity. SimpsonHaugh’s glass boxes are boring. We need something different. Why not brick or a different coloured glass at least?

I think uniformity works well. I do agree that maybe one quirky addition would work.

The Jackson street buildings are oppressive. The public space is a sop to try to give human scale and fails completely. Now we have a 70m tower and more on the way. Coming in on the tram the other night, I felt that Manchester has lost its uniqueness and looks and feels like any other transatlantic city. More uninspired dross. I guess Simpson and Haugh will look adoring at the glass clad monstrosities from their converted historic ‘studio’ – funny that.

Feels a little bit with the rise of materials that Renaker have decided to save on some architect fees and resorted to design by ctrl+c/ctrl+p

Good scheme in principle, but no reference here or on the consultation website to any affordable housing provision within the 2,388 proposed units, or even contribution to off-site, predictably enough.

Some mention of the new community facilities the previous phases have supported, which happen to directly benefit the new residents, and nice public realm – the alternative presumably being to leave the new towers surrounded by mud and rubble – so “carry on as before” seems to be the signal coming from the Town Hall.

If you have been to Euston in Texas don’t. If you have I’m sure you won’t go again. An empty city with no atmosphere but full of skyscrapers is this what Manchester wants.

Do you mean Houston? As in the fourth most populated city in the US? – J (PNW’s resident American)

January 30, 2023 at 2:31 pm

By Julia Hatmaker

honestly im happy with the investment but im afraid we’ll just become a city of glass skyscrapers and a and a market overpriced for locals. google vancouvers skyline thats what we’ll end up like it would be nice if there was some variety but then again I’m not an architect and I’m not investing the millions something is better than nothing Manchester has come a long way.

Great news, and some variation clearly with circle and blade.Victoria remains my favourite though. 70 storeys? Who’d have thought only 10 yrs ago. It’s funny to see the rather petty comments that so much development in the city attracts but let’s be honest we all know why. Such a great time to be in the city watching it grow and replace surface car parks and dross. Properly zoned like this and Greengate is the right way to do it. 80 storeys next….and a pointy top!

How many affordable homes units are there in the schime

You know you’re doing something right when your critics are seething and have little to add but ill formed opinions! Excellent, right place , right time well done.

If Manchester has any tall buildings to spare then how about moving them down the East Lancs to Liverpool and give our skyline a bit of a boost?

References to Houston in Texas are interesting. Texas, now has a bigger economy than Spain. There is clearly a market for all these towers,and the people living in these are going to be people with immense spending power. Manchester’s rise to a global city, is well under way. I think Westminster needs to see what is happening in Manchester and give it the tools to build an alternative to London. They are stunting its growth.

Totally agree that uniform approaches work best if you’re going to be building 40+ skyscrapers. But these should have been the radical ones to contrast with the simpler ones. Very disappointing.

Euston? The 7th largest station in Britain! You couldn’t make some of these comments up if you trawled Lidl in Cleethorpes on a wet Wednesday afternoon ! Great development and clearly a lot more to come for Gt Jackson St as that was always the plan for this area.

It would seem Simpson – Haugh only have one design. 🙁

I live in Deansgate Square and honestly so far the buildings which Renaker designed have been alright. I exprcted a bit more from Trinity but it is what it is. This however, there is 0 creativity in those designs. It is almost as if they’ve told the design company to try and make the most boring and basic skyscraper. There is so much potential and Renakare has plenty of experience. Renaker please please please redesign those skyscrapes in something which would not bore me to death with its chessboard look

come on… surely we can do better than this generic glass stuff!

Literally about 7 different forms of tower in that single image above. Some of these comments are madness, but unfortunately expected

Julia is on fire in these comments today.

On the development – I have sometimes wondered if the designs are too similar, but honestly i think there Is plenty of variety in terms of cladding materials within GJS, whilst the cohesiveness of the designs makes it a distinct neighbourhood – they certainly all have a particular look that is distinct from their towers at Greengate etc.

Well done to the Renaker Team.

What Renaker are promoting is single handedly and radically transforming the Manchester skyline leaving a legacy for several decades to come. No other city in the UK is delivering this.

If the city’s economy is to continue to grow we need homes at all price points to rent and to purchase – this scheme will continue to fill an important role in the delivery of much needed, new homes.

Finally, I am sure that Renaker are acutely aware of the need to make the Great Jackson Street neighbourhood an interesting place to live, work and visit – lets judge them when their work is complete as I am sure they and the Council are acutely aware of what makes a successful place.

Hulme’s really up and coming these days. Lovely.

Totally agree that uniform approaches work best if you’re going to be building 40+ skyscrapers. But these should have been the radical ones to contrast with the simpler ones. Very disappointing.
January 30, 2023 at 2:50 pm
By Anonymous

You might find the building costs are massive when building radical skyscrapers. Thats why square one’s are more cost effective! Obviously you don’t know but Great jackson street doesn’t have any square skyscrapers! so its quite radical I would say!

Couldn’t have thought we’d have so many talls in the city not that long ago. I agree a variation from SimpsonHaugh and that Hong backed one in Greengate will probably look better but even so. As long as they continue to link them properly to the street which takes time then we going to get a brand new neighbourhood that will complement and differ from the characterful old ones like Ancoats and the Northern quarter. That I believe was always the plan when this was first mooted many years ago and it’s actually happening.

In every developing and developed cities in the world – you will find skyscrapers. For increasing populations that are looking for access to public transport, health and entertainment – cities and skyscrapers are the answer. Manchester has always been a city of work from near and far. Concilio et Labore.

Love Renaker, but this definitely needs a rethink on the design and shape, I get it’s about profit margins, but surely there is potential for an alternative design which is just as profitable but more aesthetically pleasing. Do the greater Manchester people a favour Renaker and redesign this! It will be seen worldwide for years to come once made, there should be a wow factor to it.

Another set of tall boxes. Dull. Where’s the Shard of the North?

All these comments about cladding patterns like it’s the most important thing. It seems like it’s only enthusiasts or people who will never live here that are commenting.

More importantly is what the area is like to live in? What are the flats like to live in? Do they have balconies and winter gardens? Are they spacious? Are there enough places to buy groceries or socialise? What are thee streets and spaces like to walk in? Safe, pleasant and uplifting or gloomy and devoid of activity?

More apartments no affordable housing

Simpson Haugh again…boring! Another generic glass box then for the 71 story tower. This could be an opportunity to build something really iconic. It certainly won’t be if SH have got anything to do with it. Disappointing

Some childishness in the comments. Inevitable I suppose when you have such developments. It’s really happening though. Brilliant, and bring on the next ones too.

These negative comments are so cliched and boring.

This is very impressive but 213 meter isn’t very tall compared with 300 meter Shard in London, I wonder if we will see Manchester having the UK’s tallest building any time soon.

Affordable housing? Really? I was wondering when that nonsense would come up. Well that and the balcony meme. Luckily none of either that’s why they’ll sell and why ‘affordable housing’ will be built elsewhere. Nice skyline too.

Can Renaker come to Birmingham! We have brick 15-20 stories high bland boxes.

The 4 shorter skyscrapers look great but the chessboard one is just alwful. I really hope they redesign it. All of them are with the same type of glass and same type of style. The most beautful one is Elizabeth tower. It would be pretty cool if we can get a different skyscraper which would house the UK’s tallest restaurants

Just seen this and can’t believe we are getting a 70 story now. Have been asking for this for an age now so someone has listened. 213 m makes this I think the same height as the first iteration of the Trinity tower that didn’t happen . This looks likely to go ahead now so that has to be great news.

I can’t recall any of City district or City Quarter in the world purely developed and by one client and design team. Not sure this is a good thing for the urban soup of any City.

Circle Square is a great (bad) example of a sterile community space surrounded by towering walls of glass and concrete – it’s awful and just another depressing location added to Manchesters ‘wall of windows’ – also how does anything in that picture resemble a lighthouse ?

Used to like these talls appearing but who’s going to live in them ? I’d hate to live there. I despair at where we’re heading. Id rather move to Leeds or Liverpool.

The tallest tower in Manchester… you’d expect it to look like a landmark but here we go again with SimpsonHaugh repetitive, ugly block. How are these people shaping Manchester and getting away with their monstrous, dull towers without any architectural value is beyond me. We will never catch up with London, yes there’s a lot of development but there’s no quality design in Manchester, it’s very alarming. There’s amazing architects out there who could really elevate Manchester but all we get is mediocre checkerboard copy and paste ‘designs’ from SimpsonHaugh over and over again, it’s truly exhausting to watch!

@steve perhaps you should take a trip to the north of the city where SimpsonHaugh have designed two brick towers currently under construction with another brick development due to start. Although not the best of the group, that accolade goes to Elizabeth Tower, it’s certainly a standout tower and design and will be a true beacon for the neighbourhood and Manchester.

Also, it doesn’t look like a lighthouse.

WOW!
I’ve NEVER seen a chequerboard design on a skyscraper before …

Who are these buildings aimed at and at. If private occupation what would the cost be and if rental we are probably looking at around £1200 pcm for a one bed apartment. It’s about time that these companies worked with local councils to build social rental not private

Having lived in a skyscraper cluster in Dubai. All i can say is this place will get very windy.

Ooh..whenever more talls appear it certainly sets the cat amongst the pigeons. Great to see Manchester on the up and continuing to dominate the conversation. Let’s get these up and Long May it continue!

Didn’t Simpson haugh also design the Elizabeth tower? I agree with a few comments that say that is the most attractive design. Maybe it’s the dark glass or the different levels but that’s the winner for me.

Have it taper in towards the top and then enclose the top with a dome. ie make it look like its actual name.

Fantastic news if it goes ahead as planned without interference and alterations.
Will massively improve our Skyline.
Manchester is an international city and should have an impressive skyline to show we are a forward thinking modern city that cherishes our Victorian buildings but we’re also building a bright new future.
It will increase the Council’s income from Council tax.
It will create construction jobs.
It will create more demand for services, retail and hospitality sectors and consequently more jobs.
Let’s not wine and decline!
Let Manchester grow and thrive!!

The comments section has gone wild on this one.
They should have done something more interesting on this site though. Appreciate it’s subtle changes but the proposed four central towers look way too samey.

It’s not a site though , it’s a district with many more planned. There are already quite a few that are different but obviously more will be nice. We are getting greedy though. Had to log on to Skyscraper city to keep up with how many there are now.

There are some really exciting projects appearing in Manchester with quirky innovative designs, just sadly not in this locale. Go on, surprise us with something other than just another glass obelisk!

So in total there’s another 7000 new homes. My question is who’s going to be able to afford these apartments?
And we’re are the jobs in this area ?

2.02pm – Anonymous asks where are the jobs?

Just read the MOAF 2022 office occupant report that was in PNW this week!!!!

Anon @2.23 that report tells us nothing about future jobs or the number of jobs moving out of the city

I’d invite anyone making comments about saminess or who doesn’t like tall cuboids to travel back in time to the late 1980s to look at what Manchester used to be.
Even ten years ago it was hard to believe there would ever be another building the size of the Beetham tower.
Renaker and Simpson Haugh are nothing but a positive for this city.

Anon 3.07pm – the number of jobs being created in Manchester has far outweighed the number of homes being built for many years now. Look at NOMIS Manchester for more info. This is evidenced in the way that BTR developments fill up to full occupancy within months of PC. These will be no different I’m sure. Developments like this are backed by a great deal of research and analysis – they don’t just throw them up for fun!

Where are the Jobs? Oh let me see, this is Manchester City centre so there’s that and within that there’s New Bailey, Spinningfields, First St, St John’s , Circle square, etc etc. The tram also takes 15 mins or so to Media city and the quays. If you’re just too tired to travel you can always work from home. Hope that helps.

Have we broken the comments record with this article yet? Goodness knows what’s going to happen when the build them and then announce that 80 story one with the pediment.

Anon 3.07pm – from my reading of the comments you asked earlier “we’re are the jobs in this area”. Well todays article in PNW “Ask tables plans for 304,000 sq ft First Street” office” should help answer the question you pose and these jobs are a stones throw from the Renaker development. To help you work out the jobs – assume 1 for every 100 sq ft of office!

To be fair this area looked pretty fantastic the other day. The Elizbeth Tower, Blade and 360 are all pretty stunning, are all different and work well.
You can see why they are taking a more uniformed approach to the masterplan as a whole but I think Manchester is screaming out for something more unique soon. I also thought that this site would be the one.

Why not an iconic chimney shaped tower?

Better still how about a tower with a Bee Hive shaped pediment called the The Bee Hive because of the worker Bee motive y’know …well you’ve probably got it. Wow that was easy I could be an architect .

Whilst i agree the city needs development and its great derelict plots are being built on, but i cant help but groan when they quote how many new homes are to be built – but are they affordable? 1 bed flats at Middlewood Locks go for over £1k a month. How is that affordable?! And no doubt this will be the same.

Would be such a good opportunity to increase the height to 74 storeys as a nod to the formation of Greater Manchester by the local government act of 1972. If a tower of such stature should exist, it should incorporate character from the place that it was developed and overlooks. In regards to the design, money will always be the bound subject so of course design will be kept “minimal” to the 21st century glass theme. The area of Great Jackson Street has (so far) a collectively monotone lilt with design and colour; which either exhibits contrast to the rest of the city or that very contrast is the reflecting component character of the city itself. Whatever design is decided I hope that this building showpieces not just the local area but the entire context of Manchester. Something to be proud of… But who knows perhaps it’ll just be another tall glass box as you say.

I spend all my free time looking at Manchester building proposals on the internet and I can confirm this new proposal will ruin my life.