Property

New images of controversial £20m Northern Quarter glass tower released

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 15th March 2022

New CGIs have been released of Salboy’s controversial glass skyscraper in the Northern Quarter.

The striking plans will see an 18-storey, ultra-modern tower built opposite Shudehill bus station.

The building, known as Glassworks, faced plenty of opposition when plans were first lodged, with many saying it didn’t fit with the historic aesthetic of cultural hotspot the Northern Quarter.

The development comes from construction company Salboy, which is owned by billionaire bookie Fred Done, and Domis.

The Glassworks tower in the Northern Quarter – the ‘pocket park’, and the skyscraper’s entrance. Credit: Domis

Glassworks, nicknamed the ‘Shudehill Shard’, will consist of three interlinked office buildings, including a restored 1920s warehouse.

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The £20m plans have also included a new pocket park with a blossom tree.

The roof terrace at Northern Quarter tower Glassworks. Credit: Domis

Domis has now shared new CGIs of how the modern skyscraper will look when it’s completed.

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Looming over its Northern Quarter neighbours Scuttlers Wine Bar and the Lower Turks Head pub, the main tower will be dominated by floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

Read more: Lad accidentally eats rare ‘half and half’ Creme Egg worth £10,000

The converted warehouse and a new brick-built building will have a roof terrace for the building’s tenants, based on plans.

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Domis’s post on Instagram states: “One look at these shiny new CGI’s and it is CLEAR that Glassworks on Back Turner Street is going to be one of Manchester’s most desirable workspaces.”

The project is expected to be completed in December 2022.

Featured image: Domis / Salboy

Property

Manchester rent is now ‘41% more expensive than five years ago, according to a recent study

Danny Jones Danny Jones Manchester rent prices 2026

Yes, that’s right, as per some of the latest data on leased housing in central Manchester, it’s now approximately 41% more expensive to rent here than it was half a decade ago.

If you’ve lived in and around the city centre for long enough, chances are that you’ve already been feeling that difference, especially of late.

The ongoing cost-of-living crisis roughly began in 2021, following the economy and the world essentially opening back up after multiple lockdowns, so it’s little surprise that new research has shown affordability when it comes to renting has been on a slump ever since, too.

As well as the price of seemingly most things in everyday life going up post-pandemic, the average rental rate for even just a one-bedroom flat/apartment has jumped up significantly between 2020 and 2025.

manchester cladding crisis
Even some ‘available’ housing in town is being hampered by claddin (Credit: Valienne via WikiCommons)

That’s according to the numbers crunched by credit card experts, Zable, anyway.

Not only did their recent report cite the rent prices going up even before the cost of living crisis – essentially following the outset of the Covid-19 outbreak – but if their figures, the rate of inflation and the unwaveringly high demand for housing are anything to go by, this trajectory is likely to continue in 2026.

As of February this year, around one in three UK households is now a single-person occupancy, which already comes with its challenges (the Manchester City Council tax discount being a thin lifeline for countless), not to mention energy bills and the cost of groceries continuing on an upwards trend.

Put in the simplest and most reductive terms, it’s now almost £300 dearer for most people to live on their own than it was back in 2020, and besides Liverpool clocking in as second on the list of increasingly expensive cities to live (a 42.12% increase), Manchester came in third.

You can see the full table down below:

RankCity% increase – 2020-2025Difference from 2020 to 2025 in £Average rental cost for a 1 bed 2025
1Newport47.39%£2,611£8,121
2Liverpool42.12%£2,290£7,727
3Manchester41.00%£3,364£11,569
4Edinburgh40.28%£4,620£16,090
5Leicester39.93%£2,391£8,379
6Wolverhampton39.22%£2,049£7,273
7Nottingham39.07%£2,400£8,543
8Glasgow38.02%£2,679£9,725
9Colchester37.63%£2,617£9,572
10Cardiff37.06%£2,828Average rental cost for a 1-bed 2025

Another fear is that with lots of people finding it hard to manage living in other major cities like London, even those moving to Manchester are also having an impact on how available affordable housing is here.

That’s why schemes such as the new ‘social rent’ development over in Wythenshawe are so important to the current generations of renters, with the possibility of owning your own property in the future becoming increasingly difficult for so many.

It’s also worth noting that Manchester ranked fourth among the British locations where the cost of living is said to have increased the most over the past five years, with the average difference in annual spend growing by an estimated 22.84%.

You can read their breakdown in full right HERE.

The plans to build 107 new homes in Manchester city centre – including affordable housing

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Featured Images — The Manc Group

Property

Inside the £1.3m Bolton gatehouse considered a ‘remarkable’ piece of local history

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A magnificent Grade II-listed gatehouse in an affluent area of Bolton has gone on the market, and it’s your chance to own a piece of local history.

You will need a small matter of £1.3 million before you’re able to call it yours, though.

Now, as we always say before we write about these stunning homes, it goes without saying that the vast majority of us won’t have this kind of money just sitting in bank accounts right now… but if like us, you’ve got no shame in admitting you love looking at houses you can’t afford in places you’ll probably never live, then allow us to introduce you to this absolute beauty.

This is Lostock Hall Gatehouse – a breathtaking Grade II-listed residence that’s believed to date back to the late sixteenth century. 

Tucked away in ‘complete seclusion’ in the sought-after Bolton area of Lostock – which is known and loved by families thanks to its varied housing options, excellent local schools, convenient transport links, and proximity to amenities including Middlebrook Retail Park – this extraordinary five-bedroom link detached property is described as being ‘rich’ in heritage and architectural significance.

The home has been thoughtfully enhanced over time to introduce refined features for modern life, all while preserving plenty of original features.

Set behind imposing electric gates and nestled on a plot of just under three quarters of an acre, Lostock Hall Gatehouse is divided into two detached buildings, which estate agents say offers ‘unparalleled’ versatility for multi-generational living, business use, leisure space, or even guest accommodation.

This is the impressive Lostock Hall Gatehouse in Bolton / Credit: Miller Metcalfe

The main residence is packed with bags of character – think an original stone frontage, charming mullion windows, feature fireplaces, exposed beams, expansive rooms, and so much more.

Some of the other stand-out features in the main house include two impressive reception rooms, a beautifully presented country-style kitchen, and five large bedrooms arranged over two floors.

A short walk from the main residence stands a substantial two-storey detached building, which is in need of some refurbishment for sure, but estate agents say it presents exceptional potential and flexibility for a wide variety of uses.

It’s currently on the market for £1.3 million / Credit: Miller Metcalfe

Just as you’d expect, the outside of the Lostock Hall Gatehouse is almost an impressive as the inside, as it boasts manicured lawns and gardens stretching beautifully across the plot and designed to be enjoyed in every season.

The large private driveway also provides off-road parking for several vehicles.

Read more:

This property is currently on the market with the Bolton branch of local estate agency chain, Miller Metcalfe, for £1.3 million, and if you fancy taking a closer look, then you can contact the agents to arrange a viewing.

Or you could just take the cheaper route instead and have a nosy at the Rightmove link here.

Featured Image – Miller Metcalfe

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