Bigger than Beetham: plans to build Manchester’s tallest skyscraper approved

Manchester City Council has approved a proposal by CQ Investments, a branch of Renaker Build, for a development of four residential blocks near Deansgate station. This means construction can now go ahead, with completion expected before 2020.

The tallest building will be over 200m and 66 storeys high – 19 storeys bigger than the Beetham Tower, currently the tallest building in Manchester. Not only will it knock Beetham Tower off the top spot, but it will make the CIS Tower at 118m and City Tower at 107m seem small!

The site is 3.7 acres of land which was previously a car park close to Deansgate railway station which will be known as the Great Jackson Street Development.

The development will include more than 1500 individual apartments with basement car parking as well as a cinema, tennis courts and even a swimming pool!  117,865 sq ft of public space will be opened up, with plans for bars and restaurants and other leisure facilities.

The new scheme has not been without controversy. More than 100 members of the public had signed a petition opposing the construction of the towers. Some objections questioned the scale and height of the development, whilst others raised the issue of lack of affordable housing.

A number of new developments have also been approved for this area including a 35 storey tower on Whitworth Street West and a 47 storey build on River Street.

The Renaker Group has also recently secured plans for a new 44 storey building in the Greengate area of Salford. So watch this space – literally!