Manchester’s tallest sky scraper will now be even bigger after layout changes

Originally, Viadux phase 2a was going to be 241m, and contain 782 apartments. But developer Salboy changed the internal layout of the behemoth to incorporate 452 flats and a 160-bedroom hotel.

To fit the hotel in, the tower will now be 245.65m in height but remain 76 storeys. An update from the firm said: “While the principles behind the design approach remain the same, our revised details include minor details to the façade of the tower to accommodate the hotel use.

“This has also resulted in a small increase in the height of the building, although within the same number of storeys.”

Viadux phase 2a

The inclusion of the hotel was announced last autumn, and the operator was confirmed last week as Robert De Niro-part owned firm Nobu. Fred Done, Salboy and gambling giant Betfred founder, said the move ‘is about bringing this level of class to Manchester and celebrating what it means for the city’.

The 246m skyscraper, set to be sandwiched between Manchester Central convention centre and Lower Moseley Street, will follow the 40-storey Viadux ‘phase one’ apartment block, which opened next to Beetham Tower last year. Salboy’s previous plans for Viadux ‘phase 2b’, a 23-storey all-affordable apartment block to be constructed nearby, remain unchanged.

The development means Viadux will one day be Manchester’s tallest tower — but competition is fierce.

Renaker’s planned ‘Plot D’ skyscraper

Within Manchester, Renaker’s planned ‘Plot D’ skyscraper will overtake the 200m-high Deansgate Square South Tower as the city’s largest, coming in at 213m in total.

Renaker has the edge over Salboy in the race for now, as Plot D has secured planning permission, but Viadux has not yet.

However, both will ultimately lose out to a neighbour from the other side of the River Irwell. Henley Investment Management has plans to demolish much of Regent Road retail park in Salford to make way for 10 new apartment blocks and 3,300 flats.

The biggest will be 273m in height, which would make it Britain’s third-tallest building; larger than anything in Canary Wharf and just behind The Shard and Horizon 22 in London.

Like Viadux, it does not have planning permission yet, but it is expected to be reviewed by Salford council in the next four months.

You can see more details of the Viadux plans online here.