Property

Gigantic new tower with 481 apartments gets the go-ahead in the Northern Quarter

The plans were initially rejected.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 28th July 2022

An enormous new tower has been approved for the Northern Quarter, and will be built on an ‘under-utilised’ car park.

There’ll be a whopping 481 new apartments in the new 33-storey development, which has been designed by SimpsonHaugh, the same architects behind Beetham Tower.

The huge tower on Port Street, just off Great Ancoats Street, will create ‘a better connection between the Northern Quarter, Ancoats and Piccadilly’.

Plans for the tower were initially rejected for being too tall, but the new approved proposal is for a slightly smaller structure, with one storey removed.

The Port Street tower plans. Credit: SImpsonHaugh

Local residents had also objected to the lack of affordable housing.

But Manchester City Council have now given the green light for Select Property’s Port Street development to go ahead.

When complete, the tower will have a mix of built-to-rent one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

Facilities will include co-working spaces, a cinema room, a gym and lounge areas, as well as space for restaurants, cafes and bars.

Read more: University of Manchester ‘really sorry’ for earlier statement about student applicant’s death

Adam Price, CEO for Select Property said: “Select Property has developed an outstanding reputation for delivering some of the city’s best build to rent accommodation such as Embankment West home to Laurence Place and Exchange Point.

“Now, works can begin on Port Street, a site which was long overdue for significant investment and promises to deliver the very best apartments the city has to offer, creating a vibrant community.

“The plans will marry this desirable location with a superb product which responds to its surroundings, bringing together Piccadilly, Ancoats and The Northern Quarter.”

Featured image: Supplied

Property

Inside One Port Street, the Northern Quarter’s luxury new 32-storey apartment block

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson The view from the top of One Port Street. Credit: The Manc Group

A towering new development in the Northern Quarter has revealed its open date – and given a sneak glimpse inside the luxury apartments.

One Port Street is a £195m development on the doorstep of both the Northern Quarter and Ancoats, standing at 32 storeys tall and boasting 477 open-plan apartments.

And this major new development will also be home to a 2000 sq ft leisure facility with a swimming pool, a spa pool, and an urban garden, with a total of 22,000 sq ft of public green space.

The building’s hit a major milestone this month, finally confirming an opening date of February 2026.

One Port Street has been developed by Select Property in partnership with prestigious architects SimpsonHaugh.

Inside, each apartment will offer an industrial aesthetic with exposed textures, and apartments ranging in size from one bed to three.

There’ll be glass balcony balustrades, with a pattern inspired by textile patterns from the Whitworth Art Gallery.

As well as the apartments, One Port Street will have high-spec indoor and outdoor working and socialising spaces, such as a 360° firepit, state-of-the-art gym and yoga studios, and co-working spaces.

One Port Street in Manchester. Credit: Select Properties
One Port Street in Manchester. Credit: Select Properties
CGIs of how One Port Street will look when it’s completed. Credit: Jon Parker Lee

On the 7th floor, there’ll be a resident lounge and external terrace, named after a tavern which stood on Port Street 200 years ago, plus a secret room for residents called The Hideout.

Ian Simpson, Founder Partner at SimpsonHaugh, said: “One Port Street embodies the rich architectural diversity of Manchester.

“This development offers more than just a place to live, work, and socialise – it’s a sanctuary within the city’s most creative and lively neighbourhood. It’s a true example of what a sustainable, modern community should be.”

Inside a One Port Street apartment
Inside a One Port Street apartment
Inside a One Port Street apartment
Inside a One Port Street apartment. Credit: The Manc Group

Adam Price, CEO at Select Property, added: “One Port Street is set to be a true landmark for Manchester and represents everything we believe modern residential living should be – design-led, community-minded and connected to its surroundings and local heritage.

“The Northern Quarter has long been the focal point of Manchester’s creativity and culture and this new development takes inspiration from that while bringing something new to the community.

“The response so far has been phenomenal, and as we enter the final phase, we’re proud to be collaborating with local artists and independent businesses to bring the finishing touches to life, ahead of welcoming our first residents. Make sure you join the waitlist to be part of this exciting story.”

One Port Street is set to complete in February 2026 and you can see more here.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

Property

Much-maligned derelict Stockport site to be turned into town’s latest tower block

Danny Jones Danny Jones Stockport town centre's derelict Victoria House building being turned into new apartments tower block

A derelict site in the centre of Stockport is finally set to be bulldozed and turned into a brand new tower block worth a reported £70 million.

The regularly reviled Victoria House on Wellington Street, situated close to the large, grey Stopford House and opposite a local branch of Grosvenor Casinos, was built back in the 1960s – as its old metropolitan exterior makes evident – and has been tipped for redevelopment over the last decade.

Sitting on the corner of the Greek Street roundabout, it has remained mainly empty since 2019, with various developers looking to transform it into various residential reboots.

Now, nearly 10 years later, the building looks to be finally ready for the next chapter and a new lease of life, with property firm Progressive Living (PL) hoping to turn it into two main eight and 20-storey tower blocks, with tiered levels, different room capacities and rooftop spaces.

The land has been subject to plenty of urban exploration.

The former office building was once part of the nearby Jobcentre Plus branch, just down the road, not to mention one of several similar abandoned and underutilised spaces with untapped potential in the area.

Along with the demolition of the structure itself, the adjacent Fletcher Street car park that sits between Victoria House and the aforementioned casino will also make way for the apartments.

With the planning permission application submitted earlier this year and officially greenlit by Stockport Council on Thursday, 3 July,

Promising a mix of one, two and three-bed properties, the company are planning to build a total of 245 homes, though there has been some criticism regarding affordability – a significant increase on the initial idea to turn the 13,000 sq ft office unit into 21 flats some years ago.

The project will be brought to life using funds taken from the £5.7m grant set aside for the town by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Speaking on the project, PL director David Fairclough said: “We’re delighted to have secured planning for what will be a flagship scheme for Stockport.”

“This approval represents a major milestone for a project that’s been six years in the making, and we’re proud to play our part in shaping the next chapter of the town centre’s transformation.

“With demolition due to start later this year, we’re looking forward to delivering much-needed new homes in a sustainable, future-focused way.”

A CGI of what the new residential tower block in Stockport town centre will look like. (Credit: PL)

Construction is slated to start next spring, and they’re hoping to complete the project by summer 2028.

Developers hope to start demolition works this year, with construction expected to start in spring 2026, and completion targeted for Summer 2028.

Local councillor Micheala Meikle, who serves as the town’s cabinet member for regeneration, said: “This is another important step in transforming Stockport as part of the UK’s biggest town centre regeneration.

“These high-quality new homes will bring more people into the heart of the town, supporting local businesses and making the most of our new transport links.

“With the Mayoral Development Corporation delivering 8,000 new homes and Metrolink on the horizon, we’re building a town that works for the future – somewhere people choose to live, work and put down roots.

“This is exactly the kind of accessible, sustainable scheme we want to see in the town centre — creating homes for all ages as part of a thriving, low-carbon community.”

Trams are officially coming to Stockport as part of £2.5bn investment package

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Featured Images — Razor Twisted Exploring (via YouTube)/Progressive Living (press shots)

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