Salboy tops out at £195m Waterhouse Gardens

The developer’s sister business Domis has reached the highest point of construction on the last of five buildings that make up the 556-apartment Manchester project.

Waterhouse Gardens also includes 30,000 sq ft of commercial space. The scheme sits close to the AO Arena and Victoria station.

Salboy and construction firm Domis are now preparing for the completion and handover of apartments in phase one to residents by this summer, with the whole site on track to complete in Q1 2026.

With a maximum height of 25 storeys, Waterhouse Gardens will include apartments, duplexes and penthouses, with amenities including a private clubhouse, swimming pools, a squash/basketball court, lounges and a private cinema.

Commercial space around the scheme will be home to boutique traders, independent restaurants and bars, and office and co-working spaces with their own private landscaped gardens. Running through the scheme will be a new public avenue.

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Simon Ismail, managing director of Salboy, said: “We are delighted to reach this important milestone at Waterhouse Gardens, a prestigious scheme that’s breathing life into a part of Manchester that was neglected and underinvested for almost twenty years.

“We’re committed to delivering an exceptional standard of living throughout the city and we’re excited to now bring that commitment to the students, graduates and young professionals who want to make Waterhouse Gardens their home as together they shape the future of Manchester. We are looking forward to the full completion later this year.”

The scheme architect is Studio Power.

Salboy said that sales for both phases of Waterhouse Gardens scheme are ahead of target: by early May, 85% of phase one apartments were sold, as were almost half of those in phase two.

Kingsley Thornton, MD at Domis, said: “A project as ambitious and transformative as Waterhouse Gardens comes with its own complex challenges. Domis was faced with a significant shift in levels across the site requiring a very detailed and methodical approach to planning and coordination.

“Using this strategy, we were able to progress and work on multiple fronts simultaneously to maintain momentum across the scheme. We are very proud to be restoring a sense of community and prosperity to an area that was disused and unloved for far too long.”

Studio Power designed the project, which reaches 25 storeys. Credit: via Mountview Comms