Manchester’s newest apartment building is ready to welcome its first residents from 16 July, as The Castings shows off its completed interiors.
This design-led development has 352 homes, ranging from well-thought-out studios to spacious three-bedroom apartments.
And The Castings residents also have access to some of the best amenities in the city, from a panoramic rooftop terrace to private dining spaces to a work hub, plus a gym and fitness studio.
It’s right in the heart of Piccadilly East, a neighbourhood that was recently named one of the best places to live by the Sunday Times, with venues like Diecast, Ducie Street Warehouse, and even Co-op Live on the doorstep.
Residents will also be at the heart of the city’s vibrant craft beer scene – brewery taprooms like Cloudwater and Track are just across the road and it’s only a short stroll from Freight Island too.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Castings is a brand-new Build To Rent community for the city, owned by the same group behind the luxury 5-star Lowry Hotel.
Its apartments have been finished to the highest standards with huge bedrooms with massive built-in wardrobes, well-equipped kitchens complete with top-of-the-range appliances, and stunning living spaces that are flooded with natural light.
ADVERTISEMENT
A typical day for residents at The Castings could start with a workout in the building’s own gym, kitted out with Technogym equipment that includes a free weights zone, squat rack, and cardio equipment, or taking on a class in the studio where virtual instructors are available seven days a week.
Then there’s an on-site home working hub with 12 desk spaces, three private booths, and a bookable meeting room, plus a media room with a huge sofa.
Just off the working hub is one of several roof terraces which looks out over a small but green square below.
ADVERTISEMENT
Click or swipe through the gallery to see inside The Castings apartments in Manchester
A roof terrace at The CastingsThe studios at The CastingsThe studio kitchenA bedroom in a studio at The CastingsThe living room in a one-bedroom apartmentThe kitchen/dining room in a one-bedroom apartmentThe kitchen/dining room in a two-bedroom apartmentA bedroom in the two-bedroom apartmentA bedroom in the two-bedroom apartmentAn en suite bathroomThe kitchen/dining room in a two-bedroom apartmentThe 21st floor private dining roomViews from The CastingsThe 21st floor private dining roomThe reception area at The CastingsThe reception area at The CastingsA residents’ lounge at The CastingsThe gym at The CastingsThe gym at The CastingsThe Working Hub
A residents’ lounge is fitted with a pool table and a variety of board games, and is decorated with beautiful furnishings, pink walls, and cosy rugs, leading out to an even bigger roof terrace that includes huge double-bed-sized swinging lounge chairs.
The pièce de résistance of The Castings is its 21st-floor rooftop terrace, which has unobstructed views right across Manchester.
Unlike the now-towering skyline of the southern edge of the city, The Castings stands in the exciting Piccadilly East neighbourhood and there’s nothing to block your view.
From one side you can see across the Etihad Stadium and all the way to the Peak District, while other apartments have views of landmarks like the Town Hall, Deansgate Square, the Corn Exchange and the canals snaking past down below.
Residents can book a stylish private dining room up here for entertaining loved ones, with space for up to 10 guests plus a lounge space.
ADVERTISEMENT
On the imminent launch, The Castings community manager, Dave Evans, comments: “We’re really excited to welcome new residents into The Castings.
The focus for us has been to create much more than just apartments; it’s an experiential way of living and we can’t wait to host our official launch party where the community can celebrate the neighbourhood’s newest addition.”
To celebrate the opening, The Castings is hosting a free launch event for the local community and residents on Friday 19 July from 5pm till late.
With music, food and drink provided by local vendors, the party will start in The Castings’ reception area and later on in the evening make its way up to the panoramic roof terrace on the 21st floor. You can reserve your free spot here.
Prices for the new build-to-rent scheme start from £1,180 per month for a studio apartment, £1,310 for a 1-bed apartment, £1,525 per month for a 2-bed and £2,165 for a 3-bed apartment.
Featured image: The Manc Group
Property
Manchester named one of the most in-demand places to buy your first home
Emily Sergeant
Manchester has been named among the best places in the UK to buy your first home in 2025.
There’s no doubt the property market in our region has been booming over the last decade or so, with average house prices seeming to rise year-on-year, and more and more areas becoming viewed as the places to live.
You may remember that one Greater Manchester area was recently named a ‘property hotspot’ for 2025 by Rightmove based on last year’s data, while not too long ago, neighbourhoods such as Bramhall, Broadheath, and Bowdon were identified as being the places where houses prices were shooting up the most.
Another recent national ranking by Savills singled-out two of our region’s neighbourhoods as being some of the ‘most desirable’ Britain has to offer.
But this time round, it’s the city itself getting its chance to shine.
Manchester has been named one of the most in-demand places to buy your first home / Credit: Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)
Rightmove has compiled a list of what it believes are the top 10 best areas in the UK for first time buyers looking to get their foot on the property ladder in 2025 – and Manchester has made the cut right near the top.
Rightmove analysed the 50 highest-populated cities in Great Britain to see where first time buyers are looking to settle down in the most this year.
Manchester takes second place on Rightmove’s list though, with average asking prices just below £211,000, with Edinburgh following closely behind in third at £251,000.
Top 10 most in-demand UK areas for first time buyers 2025
Glasgow
Manchester
Edinburgh
Leeds
Sheffield
Liverpool
Birmingham
Bristol
Nottingham
Southampton
But it’s Glasgow that has been named Britain’s most in-demand city for first time buyers.
Here the average asking price for a typical first time buyer property in the city is £148,979, which is significantly below the national average first time buyer asking price of £228,551.
Overall, Rightmove says the data from this year’s analysis shows a trend of first time buyers looking towards northern cities, with five of the top 10 locations situated in the north of England, considering Leeds takes fourth place with an average asking price of £182,420, while both Sheffiled and Liverpool round out the top six.
Birmingham, Bristol, Nottingham, and Southampton complete the list, with Bristol having the highest average asking price among the top 10 at just above £283,000.
Featured Image – Mylo Kaye (via Unsplash)
Property
A completely free canal-side festival is coming back to Salford again
Thomas Melia
After a successful run last year, the Salford-based Middlewood Locks Fest is returning for a second time with the promise of an even bigger and better programme of entertainment, food and fun.
Taking place on Saturday 10 May from 2pm-10pm, the free festival returns to Middlewood Locks..
Whether you’re local or just looking for a great day out, the festival will have something for everyone. There’ll be plenty of activities and pop-up stalls for you to get involved with, including a daytime market as well as children’s interactive workshops.
Get Living is proud to support the festival for the second year, which celebrates local creativity, community spirit and culture. The event is set to take place on the doorstep of New Maker Yards, Get Living’s canal-side neighbourhood.
With a range of one, two and three-bedroom homes available for rent, New Maker Yards blends spacious, stylish apartments with green open spaces, complete with an on-site cafe and a strong community feel – all at the heart of the vibrant Middlewood Locks neighbourhood, where the festival action is taking place.
A completely free canal-side festival is coming back to Salford again. Credit: Karen Wright
For Middlewood Locks Fest, a Makers Market will be taking place throughout the day with items on offer from local makers, artisans, performers and creators, including plants, jewellery, artwork, clothes and produce.
The Canal & River Trust is organising explorer activities for kids and families alike, while St Philip’s CE Primary School has worked with artists to create bespoke decorations for the event too.
If that wasn’t enough for you, how about a special appearance from a canal-side regular, as a giant Canadian goose puppet will also be making an appearance to meet festival-goers.
Everything really is catered for here. On top of the makers market and masterclasses, there will also be live music courtesy of a brass band – that sounds like music to my ears.
There’s even the opportunity to go on the water yourself as a handful of rafted canoes will be in use for activities throughout the day. And, of course, food is in safe hands too…
Street food vendors, including the likes of Taka Taka Mam, will be bringing all the flavours of the Mediterranean and stuffing them into their famous hearty gyros, while city favourites Ginger’s Ice Cream Emporium is popping up from Afflecks to soak up the sun and provide dreamy desserts direct from the canal-side pop-up.
Middlewood Locks Fest, a canal-side festival in Salford. Credit: Karen Wright Photography
And since the sun’s out at the minute, it’d be rude not to treat yourself to a tipple, so good thing that the Adams & Rose Bar is making an appearance to fill up your glass with the finest gin and rum selection.
As the night comes to an end, you can dance the night away to some epic tunes thanks to a live DJ while being surrounded by a mesmerising fire and sound installation to close this spectacular celebration.
Kim Quickfall, Regional Director at Get Living, said: “Last year’s Middlewood Locks Fest was a huge success, and we’re excited to be supporting the event again in 2025.
“Bringing people from across Salford and the wider area together, the day will celebrate the best of local culture, enterprise and creativity with activities and events for all.”
Middlewood Locks Fest is returning to Salford on Sunday 10 May from 2-10pm, and more information can be found HERE.
For those who can’t make the festival fun, there are plenty of other things to see and do in the area. From the delicious treats at 97 Degrees Coffee to the landmark Aviva Studios cultural hub, there is plenty to discover in this buzzing neighbourhood.
Explore the one, two and three-bed homes for rent at New Maker Yards and discover more atgetliving.com.