Window closing on chance to submit opinions on Manchester tower quartet
The city council wants to hear feedback on a vision for four tall buildings off Water Street by Monday 25 May as the authority looks to add to its ever-evolving skyline.
Manchester City Council set out its intention earlier this year to update a strategic regeneration framework for the Water Street area, specifically the 4.4-acre site currently occupied by Manchester Industrial Centre.
The vision is for four residential towers and a park roughly commensurate in size to the one at Mayfield, which is 6.5 acres.
The earlier SRF set out a preferred option for the council-owned Manchester Industrial Centre made up of five blocks, with the tallest rising to 31 storeys, and around 900 homes.
Manchester’s 2026 update sets out plans for a taller and denser development.
The draft SRF, which is now the subject of a public consultation, is not prescriptive with regards to the heights of the proposed buildings.
Images contained within the document show that the taller of the buildings would be located on the site’s western edge closest to the ring road. The built form would be stepped down towards the east.
Details on height and number of units would be determined at planning application stage following the appointment of a preferred developer.
SimpsonHaugh, which led on the design on Renaker’s four-tower Trinity Islands opposite the site, drafted the SRF for the city council.
Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Many people may not know this underused part of our city centre, but we have an ambitious vision to create a brand-new urban park that will celebrate the canal running through the site, alongside hundreds of homes – including lots of affordable housing.
“There’s huge potential here. An inclusive new neighbourhood that will improve access to green space in this part of Manchester, creating a tranquil space in the heart of our city – a place Mancunians can be proud of.
“As ever, we want local people’s ideas to help guide development in this area. This is a chance to give your ideas about how we can meet the potential of this new neighbourhood – so let us know what you think.”
Drab and uninspiring. Can the city not look to different architectural advisors for a change. Having travelled extensively around Asia, this country sadly falls well behind in terms of new innovative and interesting architecture.
By Anonymous
Genuine question (as somebody who doesn’t work in the construction industry, but keenly follows developments):
SimpsonHaugh seem to have a monopoly on so many developments in Manchester, how and why is that? It feels bizarre to me that so many prominent developments in one city is designed by one practice. I don’t think this is common elsewhere?
By Andee
An inclusive new neighbourhood?
What, precisely, does that mean, Bev?
By BS detector
This will be a great addition to this corner of the city. Good to see some greenspace provided
By James
Yet more apartments with unaffordable service charges being built. Tower blocks are always going to be prohibitively expensive to manange and maintain so build low rise and houses instead. There wouldn’t be room for so many but it would be a much nicer place to live.
By Anonymous
Im with you all the way anon @ 12pm
By MacDopel
Greenspace yes please! But, the same boring collection of uninspiring towers of grey glass are a detriment to architecture. It’s another soulless character design, another copy and paste. No wonder why we have a nostalgia for the past when design, function and longevity were the key aspects to making an iconic landscape. The people won’t be listened to. It’ll be another generic area of the city with slither of greenery in an overly simplistic cheap looking park. Welcome to Anywhere in the Western World.
By Anonymous
Great development, a new park and hundreds of homes, whats not to like! I hope all four are 150m+, with consideration that the Big Yellow may be torn down one day and become a fifth skyscraper!
By MC
Well there’s a bit of green space. Something that Manchester doesn’t seem to have much of these days.
By Ice Monster
A new park similar to Mayfield would be great – somewhere to actually be able to relax and socialise in the city world be what everyone needs most. Not so much the proposed 4 more bland, corporate tower blocks making everyone’s eyes even more sore.
By Ben Nield
The green space is great but we need something more interesting architectural wise. Why does it always have to be grey and dull, is so boring!
By Egg
What unimaginative ideas of oblong or square towers. I travel to Egypt 🇪🇬 quite often and see awe-inspiring buildings of glass with great shape and design to them unlike the buildings in Manchester they look so glum and dull in a country like the UK. Then you travel to countries like Egypt 🇪🇬 a supposed 3rd world 🌎 country and see what I can only describe as towers unlike our supposed towers. Get a grip Manchester/Salford City Councils. And get these architectural buildings built by great designers
By Stephen chorlton
As we are awash with skyscraper buildings do we really need more? Stop changing Manchester beyond all recognition remember some of our history. Do we really need an English New York.
By Chris
I think we should carefully consider the legacy of this development. Remember the arndale centre and the Ramada building, perfect examples of progress without a thought to potential.
This is an opportunity to step away from the conventional bland forms and embrace originality.
By Anonymous
terrible eyesore that isn’t needed unless it’s affordable.
By Anonymous
Bev : The word ‘tranquil’ in Manchester makes me smile.
By Anonymous
Fantastic! Green space and more, much needed, homes for our people. Exactly what we should be doing with our spaces. The through-paths and links to castle field well thought out too. Those who complain don’t actually live in the city.
By Get it built!
Things I like: Skyscrapers and development and YIMBYism
Things I don’t like: cookie-cutter glass and steel forgettable buildings.
Seriously, can’t the council and real estate companies do something else? Surely it’s not that hard to do, say, neoclassical architecture skyscrapers that fit the character of the city better? The Hiranandani group does it brilliantly in Bombay. Many examples in Singapore too. Perhaps it’s best for them to learn a thing or two from them!
By K
We don’t want any more towers, in ten years they will be vertical slums
By Anonymous
Make sure it’s a real park. Where kids could play a bit of footie
By Pete
Manchester looks amazing, it is 100x better than it was 20 years ago.
By John Brown
Love a new park, absolutely sick of seeing the same characterless, dull high-rises going up across the city. Why are other cities across the world full of striking high-rise buildings that add to the beauty and character of a place, when manchester is being filled with skyscrapers that look like an anonymous apartment block in the suburbs of a mid-sized Chinese city? A handful of unusual buildings could transform the feel of town bit we’re getting more and more of the same grey boxes
By Anonymous
Andy Burnham should step in to make sure they are all council apartments.
By Anonymous
Anon 12.59………what has this got to do with Andy Burnham
By Mitchis60
Anonymous 12.59 pm – Andy Burnham doesn’t have any power or influence over this proposal.
By Anonymous