Plans to construct the United Kingdom’s tallest skyscraper outside of London have received approval from planners in Manchester.
Standing at an imposing 71 storeys and 213 metres tall, the skyscraper known as Plot D in the Great Jackson Street scheme will eclipse the height of Manchester’s current record holder, the Deansgate Square South Tower, which is 201 metres in height. However, despite its substantial height, the new skyscraper will still be approximately 100 metres shorter than the Shard in London, the tallest building in the UK.
The development, endorsed by Manchester City Council’s planning committee on August 29, signals the intent to transform Great Jackson Street with five new skyscrapers. The approval also includes a separate application to construct two 47-storey and two 51-storey skyscrapers in the same area, collectively providing over 1,700 new apartments.
The prominence of Plot D may be short-lived, as another skyscraper, the Viadux 2 scheme, is planned for Manchester city centre. If approved, the Viadux 2 will rise to 241 metres with 76 storeys, surpassing Plot D. The Viadux 2 is being developed by Salboy, a company co-founded by Fred Done, who also established Betfred.
The latest addition to the Great Jackson Street project by Renaker will comprise 642 apartments. The plans also include a standalone three-storey office building, a penthouse on the 66th level, and dedicated lounges, private dining and meeting rooms, a gym, and a swimming pool spanning the three storeys above. The topmost storey will house a publicly accessible restaurant.
According to a statement issued to the authority on behalf of the applicant, the proposed development is described as an “elegant, high-quality building that shall positively contribute to the townscape of Manchester and complement the cluster of tall buildings emerging in this area.”
The approval of this new skyscraper represents a significant development in Manchester’s urban landscape, highlighting the city’s ambition to expand and modernise its architectural skyline.